SUPERMARKET giant Morrisons says it has listened to the concerns of Abergavenny people and created a revised design for the new supermarket that is more in keeping with its historic surroundings.

Since Morrisons' consultants Optimisation Developments Ltd obtained planning permission in November 2011 for a new supermarket on the cattle market site, individuals and organisations in Abergavenny have voiced concerns over the design of the building claiming it was 'soul-less' and failed to reflect the town's heritage.

A request to have the Victorian abattoir listed by the Abergavenny Civic Society was rejected by Cadw, the Welsh heritage body earlier this year on the grounds that much of the original building has been damaged by subsequent extensions during the 20th Century.

And within the last six weeks there have been renewed calls for the slaughterhouses to be saved with a petition being set up to prevent the building being demolished at the eleventh hour.

Project Director Steve Greenslade said, "It is a matter of record that some years ago Monmouthshire County Council was aiming to retain the slaughterhouse buildings, but the need for demolition is far from recent news.

"Indeed, around the time of the previous Asda / Henry Boot scheme it became apparent that the area they occupy would be essential for access to the new supermarket as the Welsh Government requirement was for the access to be as far from Hereford Road junction as possible to avoid backing up from the traffic lights.

"The slaughterhouses demolition proposal was fully tested through the Morrisons planning application process and the subsequent High Court Judicial Review, which commented favourably on the robustness of the planning process.

"The historical importance of the slaughterhouses has been reviewed by Cadw three times over the last ten years, with the most recent review in January 2013 concluding against listing because there are better examples of Welsh 19th Century slaughterhouses with the integrity and interest of Abergavenny's being undermined by 20th Century alterations."

But now the supermarket's redesign has been revealed and the consultants feel that it should address many of the issues that have been raised publically.

The new scheme will have a slate roof and will reuse original abattoir stone work providing that it is still sound and was not exposed to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) prions during the 1990s.

Mr Greenslade said, "Retaining the eastern curved boundary wall element on the entrance to the Morrisons service yard, and reusing the stone in new buildings will be combined with taking architectural detailing cues from the slaughterhouse buildings.

"As shown in the illustration, this will help ensure continuity of at least some of the existing character of the south side of Park Road, and allow the new supermarket to sit comfortably within Abergavenny's historic townscape."

County Councillor Martin Hickman told the Chronicle at Tuesday's planning meeting, "This new design shows that these retail giants can listen to the concerns of local people and that they are not always intent on building an industrial hanger made of steel.

"Reusing much of the original stonework in the new scheme can only be applauded as this is a vital element to reflect what went before.

"Using this brickwork and elements of the original Victorian design features will enable the new building to have a permanent reminder of the slaughterhouses and sit comfortably in its environment."