NEW seating put in place during the recent £1m town revamp of Abergavenny’s town centre have been taken away ahead of this weekend’s food festival in Abergavenny to the fury of local residents.

Benches installed in St John’s Square, and Nevill Street - as part of an extensive refurbishment - were removed by the county council on Monday to make way for stalls arriving with Abergavenny Food Festival.

Local people are unhappy with the temporary changes as the seating provides resting spots for residents and visitors with limited mobility and health conditions.

Former councillor Graham Preece offers his time at the Shopmobility centre in Castle Street car park, which helps those who rely on the benches to rest during trips into town.

“We’ve had many complaints. People have come into the centre to ask why the seats have gone. My wife uses the benches, as has a heart problem while my neighbour says said she can’t go to town now as she needs to sit down and rest.

“People with carers, wheelchair users, and older people want and need to be able to sit down when they visit.

“The council started removing the seats on Monday. The food festival doesn’t even start until Saturday. It doesn’t take them long to remove them. Why do it now? ??“All the money that has been spent to put those in place, then along comes the festival and they’re taken out. The seating is on the periphery of the square. What’s the problem?,” he said.

Chris Woodhouse, the town Mayor, said he welcomed the many events hosted in Abergavenny, but local considerations needed to come first.

“I walked through last night and was completely shocked that the benches, which we’ve spent so much money on, and received so much publicity about have been taken away, allegedly to facilitate the food festival.

“We need to tell festivals that they have to work around us. They cannot take us over. Whilst we love having thousands of visitors, and the prosperity they bring to the town, we mustn’t forget our locals.

“There are many pensioners who go for their business in the Post Office, who are grateful to have a five minute sit-down. Many people leave their spouses and children outside whilst they go into the Post Office too. The refurbishment has been a great asset to the town.

“Ironically the food festival will now have twice the space on St John’s Square than in previous years. The benches would enhance the stalls they set up, which don’t need to take up huge amounts of space,” he said.

Councillor Woodhouse said he’d been in touch with MCC, and hoped the problem would be rectified as soon as possible.

“They are doing their very best. I’ve told them the deadline will be Friday evening before the stalls are set up. At the moment, people are asking questions that I just can’t answer.”

A spokesperson for Abergavenny Food Festival said, they had made the request to coincide with this Friday’s start date as to not inconvenience locals and visitors.

“The Food Festival asked MCC if the benches could be removed on Friday in the evening for a limited period to allow us to accommodate stalls in the town centre to ensure we make the most of our beautiful market town and bring people into the town.

“We understand the council will reinstate them early Sunday night or Monday morning. Any removal of the benches ahead of Friday is not at the request of the food festival and is a matter for the council.”

MCC has now said it will work to find a solution which satisfied all parties.

MCC’s Head of Operations, Roger Hoggins said, “Benches installed in St Johns Square as part of the refurbishment of Abergavenny’s town centre were removed temporarily to allow for food stalls and exhibits to be installed for this weekend’s festival. 

“The benches are designed so they can be removed and replaced relatively easily to accommodate events. However, we have received several requests for the benches to be reinstalled until the food festival starts and we are happy to do this.

“We are also speaking to the organisers of the food festival to see if their layout can be adjusted to allow the benches to remain in place. If this is not possible, the benches will be removed as late as possible on Friday and replaced after the food festival.”