Concerns over the ‘dwindling’ number of disabled parking spaces as pedestrianisation sweeps Abergavenny’s town centre prompted a response from the council last week.

A concerned resident, who relies on the spaces to do his day-to-day errands, told The Chronicle the spaces were ‘disappearing’ as the final stage of pedestrianisation stretches down Frogmore Street.

However, Monmouthshire County Council insisted that all works currently ongoing have been in conjunction with the views of local disabled groups.

Monmouthshire County Council’s Frances O’Brien, their chief officer for enterprise said, “Monmouthshire County Council has worked with The Public Realm group to help re-design Abergavenny Town Centre. The group is made up of representatives of many groups including the disability access groups and they have been involved in the re development of the area.  

“We have strived to ensure that consideration was given to the amount of disabled parking whilst also improving the layout of the town to create a safe accessible environment for pedestrians and other vulnerable users.”

The MCC representative added that the pedestrianisation had undoubtedly disrupted the town, but the benefits would surpass any temporary changes.

 “The final design has resulted in very little change to the number of disabled parking spaces by incorporating additional spaces within nearby car parks and shared loading and unloading areas whilst increasing the amount of highway available for pedestrians. 

This has been welcomed by the wider community and meets the overall objectives of creating a safer and more positive visitor experience for visitors and thereby supporting the economic viability of the town.”

Phase two of the scheme, carried out by local contractor Alun Griffiths, took around 26 weeks and followed a similar project in 2016 which revamped High Street, Nevill Street and St John’s Square.

The current estimated cost for the project is £700,000, which has been part-funded by the Morrison’s development which saw the sale of the old cattle market to the grocery giant.

This included a ‘shared space’ fronting the new Morrisons site and a pedestrianised area on Frogmore Street from the Wetherspoon public house, to Whitehorse Lane.