Concern over the work due to start on Agincourt Square saw worried retailers and business leaders air their worst fears this week.

A meeting of the town’s business community heard Roger Hoggins, Head of Strategic Infrastructure at Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) explain that the planned works to upgrade Agincourt Square and the pinch point will see a total closure for three weeks, and further ’lights-controlled’ traffic for up to four months.One retailer who relies on trade out of town as well as from Monmouth residents, said that any reduction in disabled bays and parking could see a fall in customers."There is a very good chance the town could start to die".The meeting of Monmouth’s chamber of commerce gave traders the chance to hear about the disruption from work planned to start in March in Agincourt Square and at the pinch point.While the plans will no doubt put Monmouth on the map, it comes at a short-term price for traders.Laying the small granite setts in the pinch point will take three weeks and will mean the main street will close to through traffic .Mr Hoggins explained that parking will be restricted in Monnow Street to allow for vehicles to turn around and go back down, while the minimum traffic allowed through Priory Street will be diverted down Agincourt Street to St John Street. Big delivery vehicles will be turned around in the square; “we hope to contact all delivery companies involved to ask them to use smaller vehicles during that time” added Mr Hoggins and he admitted that their biggest challenge would be managing the deliveries at Iceland, during and after the scheme as that part of the road would be narrower.Jeremy Jones of JC Carpets said that while he had no problem with improving the aesthetics of the scheme, his concern was the loss of parking facilities they have already “I and many others have invested in our businesses and this is how we earn our living and while we accept there will be disruption, it seems a little bit of a retrograde step in the long term”.“The scheme is a compromise” admitted Mr Hoggins. “The idea is when they come here it is a better environment when they arrive”.While no parking spaces would be lost, some disabled bays would be compromised, key would be keeping the loading bays free for genuine deliveries.It emerged that the contractors would be commandeering the space currently used by the Friday and Saturday markets next to the old Monnow bridge and 30 spaces would be lost for the four months while the works were ongoing and the market stalls would than take an additional 15 spaces away at the crucial Friday and Saturday shopping days.David Evans of Platform One said that while the ambition was “terrific” he felt the scheme was too early as the car park infrastructure was not there to support the changes.He said that the ambition to increase visitor footfall is laudable, “but we have seen people come in the summer months and drive elsewhere as there is nowhere to park,” he added.Talking of the four years wasted with Wyebridge Street car park and the loss of the parking spaces, he said. “We exacerbate the problem of people coming in to enjoy the very space we create, but if they can’t stop and get out, the ambition is probably lost”.Not all traders were against the scheme. Nick Frost said he thought the scheme would enhance the historic buildings and architecture and welcomed the planned introduction of the 20mph speed limit through town.Lottie Dixon of the Bloom Room in the White Swan Court, said they rely upon the single yellow line outside Iceland for deliveries between 8.30am and 6.30pm and said losing that with a narrower carriageway would be a blow for some traders: “If we are losing that as well, it will only be harder for people to do their jobs; independent traders are the life-blood of the town,” she said.Thanking Roger Hoggins and Rob Davies from MCC for keeping chamber members up to date, acting-chair Sherren McCabe-Finlayson asked for a show of hands to see who was in favour of the scheme, and just over half felt that the scheme would be a good thing for the town and its traders.