In January 2012, David Cummings, Special Projects Manager at Monmouth and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce, applied for funding to Monmouthshire County Council under the RDP** – Welcome Monmouthshire Initiative - for a new interpretation panel and town map stand, to be sited on the river bank, close to Monmouth Rowing Club.  

The Chamber were very pleased to hear in April that there was 100% funding for the project and, after a lengthy period of negotiations with key stakeholders, the interpretation panel and town map have now been installed, providing information for those tourists who arrive in Monmouth at this point. 

They have been designed and positioned in such a way that they give easy access for the less able.

David commented "The Chamber is keen to improve the level of communication with visitors to the town and identified some time ago that there was little information for the estimated 10,000 canoeists, 10,000 rowers and countless other visitors who, each year, arrive at the river bank close to Monmouth Rowing Club. This has been an excellent example of the Chamber and County Council working together to fulfil an identified need. I would especially like to thank Mark Lloyd, Welcome Monmouthshire Officer at MCC for facilitating the funding and Monmouth-based creative agency Platform One, who created the excellent graphics and supervised manufacture of the finished signage.  Installation of the panels, paving and bollards was undertaken by Anemone Landscapes in January 2013".  

The interpretation panel highlights some of the activities on the Wye at this location - such as rowing, rafting and canoeing; a brief history of the area at the turn of the 19th and early 20th centuries; and examples of typical wildlife species that populate the river.

The Chamber are also pleased to report that steps have been taken elsewhere to improve tourism signage around Monmouth, which will further enhance the visitor experience.