CAR park plans for Wyebridge Street were given a recommendation for approval on Monday night (5th December) by town council planners.

The new park will have 39 spaces and the access will be from Wyebridge Street.

Twelve years ago it was suggested to use that area of green space to provide car parking spaces for the top end of town, as the only other car park on Glendower Street was not enough to accommodate shoppers, workers and students parking there.

The initial idea was to use access via Granville Street, but congestion worries meant taking another look at the plans and reducing the number of spaces to accommodate a new entrance off Wyebridge Street.

With a new free car park opened this week on Rockfield Road adding an extra 100 spaces, it is hoped that shop and office workers will be able to park there all day, freeing up spaces to accommodate tourists and shoppers who venture into town.

Few cars seem to be taking advantage of the free parking however with only one car parked there at 8.30am yesterday morning (6th December).

It was hoped that cars would refrain from parking on the access road to Monnow Vale and Bridges Community Centre, but this has not yet happened.

Another parking issue was brought up by Councillor Gerry Bright at Monday’s town council meeting when he complained about the contract buses parking in the bus bays on Blestium Street.

Cllr Bright said: ”We would like signs up with the appropriate wording that the bay is not for service buses or school contract vehicles, we have to accommodate the tourist pound, it’s important for the town.

“We have had buses ringing up the Tourist Information Centre and saying they won’t be coming back as they could not park”, he added.

Commenting on the problem, the Haberdashers’ Schools said: “Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools have contracts with private bus companies to transport pupils at the beginning and the end of each school day.

“The majority of these buses then go on to fulfil other, non-school contracts during the day.

“The schools pride themselves on their close relationship with the town and local community, and under no obligation to, they arranged to pay for parking at the Monmouthshire Show Ground.  Otherwise, buses would have to return to depots across three counties which would be both costly and bad for the environment.

“One of the buses which was parked in the bay is under contract with Monmouthshire County Council linking Wyesham and Osbaston, and is there temporarily while the driver is between shifts.

“We have again notified all of our drivers of the availability of parking at Monmouthshire Show Ground, and hope that this will alleviate any issues of tourist buses being unable to park in the designated coach bays.”