The long-awaited arrival of supermarket giant Morrisons remains unclear after a request for further information was declined by Monmouthshire County Council.

A Freedom of Information request sent by this newspaper was rejected by MCC due to issues of confidentiality.

The county council’s reply stated that negotiations were ongoing, and any news would have to be kept under wraps until an agreement between the two parties was finally met.

An MCC official said more news should be available ‘within a month or so.’

The reply said, “Council representatives are in negotiation with Morrisons over the issue and the outcome of those negotiations will be made public in the near future, probably within a month or so.

“Until then, however, it is necessary to regard the negotiations as confidential so that we can obtain the best possible result.

“To that effect, the exemption at s43 of the Act is relevant, subject to a public interest test.

“The Council accepts the public interest in favour of openness, and that inherent in keeping the public informed of events affecting the County and its residents.

“However, the greater public interest in this case, at this time, is served by maintaining confidentiality so that the best possible outcome for Monmouthshire and its residents can be obtained.

“The exemption is therefore engaged and we will not be supplying the

information you requested at this stage.”

Following reports that the supermarket chain had submitted a revised planning application, this newspaper made the request to see whether any light could be shed on a situation which has frustrated councillors and campaigners since 2011.

The council signed a legally-binding contract with the firm to build a 25,000 square feet store in 2014, with the supermarket giant paying a £1.7m deposit as part of a £15m deal.

A contractual agreement between the two meant work on the site had to begin by June this year, or the deposit would be forfeited. Despite passing the deadline, it is believed that MCC and Morrisons came to an agreement to avoid triggering this payment.

A council spokesman said last month that the position ‘remains unchanged’ and the scheme was still on course.

Numerous enquiries from local politicians, and this newspaper over the last year have struggled to gain a substantial reply.

Morrisons was chosen as the preferred developer to build a multi-million pound scheme on the site of the former livestock market, which closed in 2013. A new £5million site at Bryngwyn, near Raglan replaced the old function.

It was originally planned to open the branch in 2014, but there is still no sign of construction work having begun, despite concerns and appeals to the firm from local parties.

Just a fortnight ago, Morrisons submitted a fresh planning application for the site. In a statement made at the time, MCC’s Bob Greenland offered reassurances that the development would go ahead, despite numerous hold-ups.

“Monmouthshire County Council has reached agreement with Morrisons for the company to bring forward a revised planning application for its proposed store in Abergavenny.

“The planning application has been received and following registration it will be posted on our planning portal.

“Subject to a successful permission being granted, the company intends to build a store, of similar size to the store for which there is an existing permission. It is anticipated that building will commence once all permissions are in place.

“The new store will represent a new style and trading format for the company. The non-food percentage restrictions contained in the original agreement will remain.

“Lawyers are presently drawing up the revised agreement.

“Until that is finalised, no further comments will be made on the agreement.

“This is very good news for Abergavenny, bringing certainty to what has been an unclear situation,” said Councillor Greenland.

Morrisons did not reply to a request for comment at the time of going to press.