FOUR decorative signs depicting the history of Monmouth will go before Monmouthshire County Council’s (MCC) planning committee to be discussed next Tuesday (1st December).

Three of the panels are already built in Monmouth town but approval still needs to be received.

The signs, which relate to a particular area of the town centre and annotate historical facts and dates, have black and white text on a green background.

Residents and visitors of Monmouth may already be familiar with the three located on Church Street, the Beaufort Arms Court and on Monnow Street.

Plans for the signs were recommended for refusal by Monmouth Town Council earlier this year. The council disagreed with the choice of images, the placement of the signs and issues were raised as to where the funding was coming from.

Despite this refusal, MCC has recommended the plans for approval.

A statement from Monmouth Town Council read: “The town council recommended refusal of this application as it was a retrospective application, the literature was inaccurate, the panels have been funded by MCC and that MCC have been asked to approve the application and hence has a conflict of interest.

“Regardless of whether the application is retrospective or not, each application is carefully evaluated on its merits.

“As for the comments regarding the content of the signs this is not material in the consideration of the signage which must be considered solely in relation to their impact on amenity and public, including highway, safety.

“With regard to their final comment, the panels were funded by a Welsh Government (WG) grant which was given to Monmouth and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce.

“No funds are understood to have been received from MC in respect of the panels which came from a WG grant, although again, this is for background information, and is not material to the consideration of the application.”

The fourth panel which is yet to be placed was originally intended to be placed near the Robin Hood Inn but will be located near to the toilet block adjacent to Monnow Bridge and facing the cattle market.

The Monmouth Civic Society plan to transform the toilet block, with black and white drawings of the old cattle market around the upper part of the four walls.

Below this will be attractive, modern planters containing perennial climbers and suitable low maintenance plants to soften the building.

The society hopes the old notice board and phone box could be removed. Local artist Richard Wills has kindly agreed not to charge for his art work.

To help fund the scheme, the Civic Society will be seeking sponsorship from local businesses, charities, and other bodies.