FOLLOWING our well-received article last week highlighting the growing number of empty shops and spaces in Abergavenny, the Chronicle can now reveal that some things will change, but others will stay the same.

Let’s start with the real bone of contention: the empty site where Richards used to be.

It’s been nearly two years since that lovely old listed building burned to the ground, and rumours have recently bubbled up from the sewers of social media that Monmouthshire Housing Association now owns the site and is planning to build flats there.

Not according to MCC, who told the Chronicle, “With regard to the former Richards Store, no current planning applications have been submitted to redevelop the site to date. This follows the granting of Listed Building Consent to demolish the building following fire damage.”

Disappointing, we know. But don’t shoot the messenger.

Moving swiftly on, there’s more promising news regarding the empty shells where Halifax and Barclays Bank used to be.

A few of you said you thought there were plans for a new bar/restaurant on the Barclays site. MCC said, “There is a live planning application regarding Barclays Bank as well as a listed building consent application for the change of use from A2 to A3.”

In case you don’t speak council, that translates as changing a property from financial and professional service to restaurants and cafes.

So it looks like there could soon be another place to wine and dine in Aber after all.

There is also a later live listed building consent application for the old Barclays building which relates to upper floors of the building and the development of six one-bed flats.

Regarding the old Halifax building, Swansea Building Society have submitted a planning application for partial recovering of rear roof, rear pedestrian access, external staircase, new window opening, replacement windows, replacement A/C units, new glazing units, repainting and various internal demolition, repairs and improvements.

Sadly, since 2007 there have been no planning applications to turn the Great George Pub into anything other than a monument to former glories.