CONCERNS that the twice yearly visit of the fair to Abergavenny has damaged trade in the town has been expressed by local business people.

In a letter to Abergavenny Chamber of Trade Fiona Beavan, owner of Abergavenny Coffee Bar in Cibi Walk said she felt her business, as well as others, had suffered during the visit of the fair in May, largely as a result of the loss of the Fairfield car park.

Members of the Chamber of Trade heard that Ms Beavan has already approached Abergavenny Town Council and MCC's area manager Dale Roberts asking for consideration to be given to relocating the fair to Bailey Park in the future.

She also pointed out that during the fair's September visit, Bailey Park was used as an alternative car park, rather than Lower Meadow, which was used in May.

Chamber president Susi Cernoch asked why it was essential that the fair was located at the Fairfield car park, and agreed that it could be moved to Bailey Park.

Businessman Ian Pountney said that the use of the Fairfield to accommodate the fair had been laid down in the Abergavenny Charter but added that he was certain the document had been destroyed in 1974 when the former Abergavenny Borough Council was dissolved.

"I have challenged officers at Monmouthshire County Council to produce the charter but they are unable to do so.

" With no disrespect to town councillors I think we should go directly to MCC with this" said Mr Pountney.

"The truth is they don't like Bailey Park being churned up by fairground activity and they're using the charter, which I know for a fact doesn't exist, as an excuse," he said.

Councillor and chamber member Paul Wadsworth said the issue had been raised with Abergavenny Town Council but admitted that councillors without 'county status' were like 'sharks with no teeth'.

Concerns over the increase in anti social behaviour in the town during the period of the fair were also raised by Chamber of Trade member Mark Coulton, who said that he was so worried by it, he had stopped taking his children to the event.

"We see large groups of youngsters in the town drinking and behaving badly and there are never any police officers to be seen," said Mr Coulton.

"Someone was seriously injured in an incident in the town this year - I believe the young lad is still in intensive care, and things are only going to get worse," he said.

Tim Bradfield, Recreation Officer for Monmouthshire County Council told The Chronicle "We always try to accommodate the local community when the fair comes to town.  We felt that it was unwise to open Bailey Park for parking on this occasion as we had to protect the pitches, which, due to recent weather would have been damaged from vehicles parking there. 

"We did, however, allow cars to park at Lower Meadow and the open space at Mill Street.  The fair is due to arrive again in September and we will review parking arrangements nearer the time.  Each request has to be reviewed independently and has to take several factors into consideration such as weather, sports use and events."

At the time The Chronicle went to Press no-one from Monmouthshire County Council was able to confirm or deny Mr Pountney's suggestion that the town's historic charter was missing and could not be produced.