Monmouthshire County Council's own website proudly states "Monmouth welcomes exhibition centre". Yet the Welcome Centre, which could cost close to three million pounds, to be sited near to Monmouth's ancient Monnow Bridge, is apparently not wanted by many towns people. Indeed, the letters columns of The Beacon suggest some people see the new centre as being nothing more than a "White Elephant". The county authority say the new centre, which was finally given the go ahead ajust before Christmas, will create four full time jobs and up to a further 26 employment opportunities. Further, the Council said "The project will regenerate the local economy by providing the opportunity to promote and sell locally sourced products" Readers will see this week's letters page, in which those views are questions. One reader, Mr M.Parsons, commented "I agree most heartilly with the letter by M Parsons. What are Monmouthshire County Council thinking of, proposing to spend £2.5 million on a welcome centre. " The money can be spent far more sensibly by paying for a couple of operatives to clean up the litter around the Town. Also provide more litter bins. A clean and tidy town is more welcoming than some gimicky building. Are there not enough coffee shops in the town without providing another? When it comes to Tesco store that is needed like a hole in the head. Monmouth is fortunate in having the most scenic approaches to the town from all directions so a supermarket on the edge would be, like a carbuncle on the face of a friend, to quote a well known person. Another reader, Mr E.Williams, asked: "Does Monmouth need a Welcome Centre by the Old Bridge? "Visitors, coaches and cars (if they can park, when even more spaces are lost for the Welcome Centre building) will offload passengers to sit in the cafe overlooking the Monnow, buy their postcards and gifts in the building before moving off into the surrounding area. "Wake up Monmouth! If our shops throughout the town do not get trade they will close and Monmouth residents will shop elsewhere or on the internet. "If the car parking spaces we need for shopping are blocked by people drinking coffee looking at the Monnow we will not be able to support the traders who have been our lifeline in the past. "Where is the £3.8 million for the Welcome Centre coming from? Monmouthshire County Council say they are short of funds. Any grant funding from elsewhere for a Welcome Centre needs community support. At the present time the only support comes from the Chamber of Commerce and the Monmouth Partnership Forum. Are these two organisations in a position to pay compensation to businesses who lose trade because of the Welcome Centre? Then Mr N.Deacen writes: "Who is this County spokesperson (front page December 19) who is telling the residents of Monmouth that a Welcome Centre by the old bridge will regenerate the local economy? "No doubt it is someone in a smart suit, who works in Cwmbran and lives in Torfaen, who expects to gain, somewhere along the line, by lumbering Monmouth with a "White Elephant". "The original new Monnow Bridge designers came up with this idea in 1999, when it was dismissed because Monmouth town traders would suffer economically". N.Deacen (Monmouth)
The County's own website outlines the reasons for the welcome centre: From the outset, stated Colin Phillips, Regeneration Officer, meetings with stakeholders in the town, identified the need for a building that was designed for the 21st century. Sensitive to its setting, next to the Monnow Bridge, but of its time, and with its own identity. It was also clear that the town wanted the scheme to address the barrenness of the existing car park and flood defences, and to remove the unsightly toilet block. There was also a strong case made for a building that would define or be set within a square and high quality public space that would re- connect the town with the river. Keys features of the proposal include: a single storey structure, incorporating a feature copper roof.; a glazed 'cap' providing natural lighting by day, and allowing the building to act as light box and 'beacon' by night; the creation of a public 'square' that acts as an additional focus for events and alternative markets in the town; a state of the art, heritage and tourism interpretation centre with adjoining cafe function on a raised riverside terrace.; improvements to the car park to soften the approach to the town from the new bridge; reconnection to the river and the riverside walk by means of terraced steps and a shallow pitch ramp. The proposal is the culmination of nine months work undertaken by AlecFrench Architects, with funding for the design being forthcoming from the Welsh Assembly Govrnment, MCC and Capital Region Tourism.