Ambitious plans for a £257,000 pavilion in Abergavenny’s Castle grounds hit a snag, after a Welsh Government body pushed back on the early proposals.

A letter seen by the Chronicle states that the proposed development, an oak-framed building large enough to seat 120 people, would have an ‘adverse impact’ on Abergavenny Castle—a registered historic park and garden.

Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment body, said it had ‘significant concerns’ that Abergavenny Museum ‘had not determined the actual scale’ of the proposal’s impact or ‘considered measures to mitigate or compensate’ for the possible impact on the grounds.

In the document addressed to Andrew Jones, of MCC’s planning team, it is suggested that the proposals would likely have a ‘significant impact’.

Asking for a revision of the plans, the letter reads, “Our initial assessment of the information that is available to us suggests that the impact on both historic assets is of a scale which is likely to be significant and, depending on the content of the additional information, is likely to give us cause to object.”

The proposals, announced late last November, detailed a ‘high-quality events space’ for use in all weathers, with a programme of events to ‘attract both younger and old audiences’.

“The pavilion, rather like a large bandstand, will provide a permanent shelter within the ground, and a high-quality events space that can be ‘dressed’ to suit the occasion,” stated a report.

The council has also secured £128,000 from the Rural Community Development Fund, adding to a £30,000 grant from Abergavenny Town Council, and £2,500 from the Abergavenny Local History Society.

Another £120,000 is sought from the Welsh Government’s museums, archives and libraries division, pending a decision expected in April this year.

Council figures suggest a £5,000 first-year profit through heritage events and outdoor theatre productions planned for the pavilion. ?