The Abergavenny Civic Society, the Town Council and Business Club are inviting you to join them at a public meeting to hear about the results of a unique report into the health and vibrancy of Abergavenny town centre. Last year these organisations, together with the MCC Market Hall Management team, commissioned Towns Alive to undertake a baseline survey to find out how successful the Abergavenny high street is and the challenges it faces. The study was completed in June and shows what the town centre can offer – in terms of the range of businesses, the parking capacity, how residents support the high street and also the numbers of people visiting Abergavenny to shop. The report notes some of the successes of the town, such as footfall on market day averaging 446 persons per ten minutes, which is much higher than on non-market day with 211 persons per ten minutes. These figures are also higher than the average for National Small Towns (122), National Large Towns (281) and Regional (112). The study also included a unique insight into the views of shoppers and reveals many perceptive comments about the town - both appreciative and critical. Among the comments from shoppers was one which stated they shopped in Abergavenny, 'because it is my home town and I like to support local businesses rather than supermarkets and multiples. Abergavenny has a wide range of shops and I can do ALL my shopping in the town and the shop keepers and market stallholders are so welcoming and friendly'. Another resident remarked the town could be vastly improved upon, and said the town needs 'more quality shops, less charity shops and pound stores. Abergavenny will never improve its image with current store offerings'. It is hoped the report will be an essential guide to help shape the many future developments which are taking place to maintain the town's vibrancy, and this evidence based survey will be a key tool to help measure the impact on the town if and when the new Morrisons store starts trading. Mike King, the Town's Alive senior consultant will be presenting the report and its implications at a public meeting on September 2 in St Michael's Centre, Abergavenny at 7pm.