Christopher Stowe’s letter (‘Pointless’ redevelopment’, Beacon letters 24th July) expresses fury at Monmouthshire County Council (MCC)’s redesign of Agincourt Square. I agree with him: Monmouth does not function well for anyone - pedestrians, drivers or shopkeepers - but simply resurfacing the roadway is not the answer. 

Mr Stowe is right, many high streets are struggling, but towns can buck the trend by being ‘sticky’: encourage browsing, offer truly local products, give space for socialising, widen pavements for shop displays and café seating, improve public transport, build convenient parking on the periphery... in short, make people want to be here!

Monmouth needs to change. Its pavements are narrow and pedestrians can feel bullied and rushed on them, so that browsing or resting feel like anti-social behaviour, and those in a rush have to step into the road traffic to overtake. This infuriates drivers and is repellent to tourists and local shoppers alike. 

Cars have become part of everyday life - sadly, so have warnings that, as a population, we must be radically more proactive in caring for our physical health, mental health and community. At the same time, the climate is in crisis. It’s not a coincidence. Driving each car is a person who could be walking, window-shopping and socialising - ticking off all of those desirables instead of producing jams, an us-vs.-them mentality and climate disaster-inducing pollution.

Please do not assume that I am trying to shape our town only for the young and fit. With a disability or limited mobility, or if you’re shepherding small children or wheeling a pram, Monmouth’s main street is a misery at busy times and disabled-only parking spaces are too often abused. The historic prioritising of cars discourages active travel, increases pressure on parking and, frankly, increases the morbidity of those who could be able-bodied. I want everyone to feel that Monnow Street is open to them and to maintain their greatest possible fitness and health.

Fiddling while Rome burns? This week, we’ve seen record-breaking hot weather in the UK and unprecedented wildfires in the arctic. We are facing a climate crisis and, at the same time, our towns and our health are both suffering from the dominance of cars. MCC’s plans are far less radical than we really need, but it’s a start.

Madeleine Boase (Monmouth)