A TOWN councillor has described the wooden fence surrounding the town's historic Thursday's football ground as Abergavenny's answer to the Berlin Wall.

Councillor Marion Pearse made her comment during a lengthy debate on the wooden fencing that had been erected in an effort to combat noise problems at the town's skatepark which has been subject to complaints from local residents since it first opened in May 2009.

The skatepark fence was extended last year to cover an area stretching towards Abergavenny Thursday's ground at Pen-y-Pound, which was once famously known as the Welsh Wembley.

Councillor Doug Edwards said: "The fence is an eyesore and spoils the ambience of the area."

Councillor Pearse, who was one of the campaigners who battled to bring a skatepark to the town stressed that there was a great deal of goodwill shown towards the football club in the town but this did not extend to the fencing.

"The name of the Abergavenny Thursdays is held in high esteem but I think this fence is like our version of the Berlin Wall," she said.

Mike Moran, Monmouthshire County Council's Leisure and Recreation Manager told members that concerns over anti social behaviour problems were drawn to the council's attention around 18 months ago.

"It was suggested that the original fence created a 'ghetto' for users and the police asked if we would extend the fence to eliminate the problem," he explained.

Speaking at the meeting Ray Warren, an Abergavenny Thursday's Trust member said, "The original contractor was asked back to extend the fence at a time that coincided with the Thursdays creating an extra training area.

"The fence was not only extended as per the police request, but it was also erected along the new training area boundary.

"We originally wanted a cheaper 'see through' wired fence that is a familiar site at most sporting venues, but we were overruled and we had to go with what was already in situ.

"Aesthetically it's not very pretty and the costings for our scheme would have been a lot cheaper and it would have blended into the background. However, we have to work with what is already in place. We've got what we've got and we have to live with it.

"The club's sports coaches were always finding used syringes on the playing surface and this situation has been resolved since the fence has been in place."

Mr Warren added that a number of trees had to be removed during the process, which highlighted another problem.

He added: "The removal of the trees has now revealed another problem that had been hidden by the foliage - the poor state of the grandstand but removing the eyesore of the grandstand is cost prohibitive because a lot of asbestos has been used in its construction.

"We are fans of Abergavenny Thursdays, which is one of the most famous names in Welsh football.

"A club can't just sell beer over the bar to survive these days and we need to find ways to diversify to preserve the name of Abergavenny Thursdays for the generations to come.

"We raise between £35,000 and £40,000 annually and everything is reinvested into the club and losing our application for an new all weather third generation multi purpose pitch to the south of the county was a huge loss to us as a club."

The Abergavenny Thursdays Trust now includes Abergavenny Rifle Club, which has used the ground for training purposes for decades.

Member Martin Watkins told councillors that the Rifle Club has over 50 senior members and a vibrant youth section.

He added: " The facilities here has help train five internationals in the past and the Ghurkhas use our firing range regularly for training.

"As trust members we also help out at the ground as and when required and we've even helped swell the manpower during the Abergavenny Food Festival."