SIR,
I am one of the market traders wishing to return to the Shire Hall.
I have been very heartened by the strength of public support for the market's return to Agincourt Square.
As one of the original Shire Hall traders, I can say that the majority of us wish to return to our natural home.
Many of you may remember that we fought for and won firm assurances from Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) that once the works were completed, we would be reinstated at the Shire Hall.
We then willingly moved to what we knew would be a windswept, inferior trading site where many of the smaller stalls have continued to trade at a loss.
We were then told there would not be space for our return without considerable compromise.
There will also be greater restrictions for those wishing to return to trade under the arches and on the cobbles, but these are compromises that we are willing to accept and adapt to.
It must also be said that even the four largest stalls would be happy to return were there sufficient space for them to trade.
It seems to me there are two options.
Firstly, those wishing to return to the Shire Hall are willing to accept a divided market with the smaller stalls trading at the Shire Hall, and the larger stalls remaining at the Blestium Street site.
But we are all aware that this doesn't answer the concerns of the visitors, shoppers and shopkeepers of Monmouth with regard to the loss of parking.
So secondly, another option could be to close Agincourt Street to traffic on Friday and Saturday during market trading hours.
This semi-pedestrianised area would then create a safer more accessible feeling.
It would seem ludicrous and short sighted of MCC to ignore the rate-paying businesses of Monmouth.
I believe the strength of feeling locally warrants the need for an open public meeting.
Carmen Jackson
(Monmouth)