THE pedestrianisation of Abergavenny's town centre was one of the worst decisions ever made claim members of the area's Bryn Y Cwm committee.

Councillor Giles Howard (pictured) said, "We have a number of interconnected issues in Abergavenny but I feel a sense of déjà vu when it comes to the pedestrianisation of the town.

"If there is one thing we should learn from the past that implementing this scheme sucked the life out of the town.

"This was so visibly illustrated when the barriers came down in Cross Street all those years ago. It taught me a big lesson as the town looked as though it were dead - it appeared deserted.

"A similar experiment also failed in Ebbw Vale when the local authority pedestrianised Bethcar Street. The town looks so much more vibrant since it reopened to traffic."

Councillor Doug Edwards said: "Abergavenny's pedestrianised walking area looks like a patchwork quilt with bricked paving slabs that move, black asphalted patches and ordinary paving slabs. These all need special attention as part of any co-ordinated revamp."

Councillor Andrew James said: "If the surface of the pedestrianised area is to be changed can we recommend that a material is used that doesn't move under the weight of the lorries making their deliveries."

Councillor Maureen Powell said there was no alternative to the situation as the town doesn't have service areas in which to unload, and added, "We have problems in town everyday with delivery drivers having no option but to unload in the pedestrianised area of town."

Councillor Simon Howarth said: "We can and we need to take notice of our mistakes from the past in order to revamp the town for the future."

The discussion arose after the Bryn y Cwm Area committee meeting was provided with a report from its Task and Finish Group's which had consulted with various organisations within the area including the Abergavenny Development Forum, the Civic Society and other local community groups.

The consultation saw suggestions put forward to create a wish list of projects which would regenerate the town and included hopes for the enhancement of Lion Street, and Market Street, the creation of a mezzanine level in The Market Hall, the redevelopment St John's Square area and the bus station site and the brown field site opposite and the riverbank walk and the bridge to Llanfoist.

The Bryn y Cwm Community Forum suggested that a mass 'tidy up' of buildings should be undertaken, which include improvements to public toilets, the provision of more litter bins, better signage, and the creation of an in town leisure facility.

The Civic Society suggested that continuous routes for disabled people should be devised and the adopt a zero tolerance approach to litter and undertake the enforcement of offenders.