Proposals have just been announced for an exciting new regeneration scheme for a group of properties on the South side of Monnow Street, below Lloyds Bank. At a recent meeting at Bridges, attended by local business people, Town Councillors and others known to be interested in the future of Monmouth, Barrie Hammond, of Provis Monmouth Ltd., the developers and Local Architect and conservation specialist, Graham Frecknall, explained the thinking behind the scheme and asked the audience for their own ideas and comments. The proposals, which are still at a very preliminary stage, envisage opening up a new pedestrian route from Monnow Street through to Chippenham, to the little used car park behind Cornwall House and to the historic Nelson's Garden. The proposals are to provide a number of new, small and medium sized shops and possibly a covered market area that might also be used for entertainment. The scheme also envisages improving servicing to the rear of Monnow street shops - taking some of the pressure off the busy main street. Care will be taken to ensure that the important archaeological characteristics of the site are not lost and Steve Clarke, who has been excavating parts of the site for the past ten years has been involved in the early discussions. It is not envisaged that there will be significant changes to the streetscape, though an enhancement to some of the shopfronts is long overdue. Preliminary discussions with the County Council suggest that a development of this sort will be welcomed by County Hall and although there are several hurdles to be overcome, none seem insurmountable. Planning officers recognise that the deep burgages behind the Monnow Street Shops can be better used and also that creating new access to Chippenham from higher up Monnow Street is a very welcome development. Although the developers do not envisage creating many more parking spaces, their scheme will make much better use of whatever is available and ease congestion on other sites. At the meeting, Barrie Hammond, who is an expert in the development of retailing in country towns and who has another project underway in Ross-on- Wye, said that there was clear evidence that Monmouth needed more quality retail space; a view supported by Monmouth Chamber of Commerce Chair, David Cummings. He went on to say that engaging with local people during the early development stages was the best way to get things right first time. It is in nobody's interest, he said, to create unnecessary delays to progress resulting from misunderstanding and poor communications.
