MOST of us will be experiencing a substantial increase in

the cost of living and in particular the food prices at all

the supermarkets. Asda, Tesco and Morrison's are the

three where local people shop.

Why then is Monmouthshire County Council blocking the

Aldi planning application, it could be two three years

before the cattle market fiasco is resolved.

Ten years ago or more the 'Three Town Initiative' was the

plan to take Abergavenny forward into the 21st century.

The initiative highlighted the need for a food store in the

town and in particular in the area of the bus station.

Now we have an opportunity to have a supermarket in the

very area suggested by the authorities own advisors which

has a reputation for quality and at the same time the least

expensive of all the stores.

Are the people of Abergavenny to be denied this

opportunity because Monmouthshire County Council has

done such a restrictive deal with Henry Boot to satisfy the

Conservative majority's ambition to spend Abergavenny's

inheritance money on a white elephant nine miles away in

My fellow residents ought to be aware a landlord should

be looking for a ten percent return on his capital invested.

The new cattle market will cost £6m the return should be

£600k - we will be lucky if we receive of one percent. Are

you not surprised Abergavenny shopping centre is looking

so sad when our affairs are so poorly managed by the

county council conservatives.