NEWS that essential maintenance work is to start on the old Monnow Bridge has sparked alarm among traders and market holders at the bottom end of town.

Essential repair work to the bridge's parapets, which should have taken place some weeks ago but was delayed by the bad weather, is set to start at some point in the next week or two – although as the Beacon went to press, Monmouthshire County Council was unable to give an exact date.

Work on the bridge's parapet is always a challenging task, and it is estimated that the work, which will include repointing and corbelling, could take as long as ten weeks. Such a duration would almost certainly include the Easter weekend, and the beginning of the tourist season.