THE?chairman of Abergavenny Civic Society has warned councillors that the long-awaited Morrisons development is an ‘inferior’ design which will be an ‘ugly’ addition to the town centre.

In an open letter to Councillor Peter Fox, leader of Monmouthshire County Council, the group hits out at the development, dubbing it unsuitable and the result of ‘appalling compromises’ made between planners and MCC.

“We were initially promised a building of quality, featuring reclaimed stone from the historic market buildings,” the letter reads, before attacking the development as a ‘betrayal of the people of Abergavenny.’

Ruth Coulthard, author of the letter, and chairman of Abergavenny and District Civic Society, said the compromises made to finally bring the supermarket to Abergavenny were at odds with the original plans, and even violated proposals which were ‘soundly rejected’ previously.

“The final design from Morrisons is an inferior concept to that of the notorious Henry Boot scheme which was resoundingly rejected by your predecessors,” it reads, before going on to reference a 2007 design review which claims the plans had ‘gone backwards in design terms.’

The open letter, dated April 3, called the time period concerning Morrisons will-they-won’t-they application to build a supermarket on the Old Cattle Market site, a ‘long and sorry saga’.

Mrs Coulthard ends the letter by attacking the building’s proposed shape, saying it would be ‘acceptable on an industrial estate’ but ‘completely inappropriate in an historic market town centre’.

The group’s vice chairman, Tony Konieczny, said the design was ‘alien’ to the rest of the surrounding area.

“This long and sorry saga has been going on for a very long time. ??“I think Morrisons have held all the cards, and MCC has got into a game of poker with people who have out-bluffed them, now they are building what is essentially a functional shed, which is fine on an industrial estate, but not for a market town like Abergavenny.

“We are ending up with something that is worse than the Henry Booth scheme. I think the people of Abergavenny deserve better than what is a functional hangar. ??

“We actually have no problem with a supermarket coming to Abergavenny, but do I think this design will enhance the beauty of our town? No, I do not. ??The materials being used are completely alien to the vicinity. I think it will be a really ugly building.”