TIC return to Shire Hall is the first step in securing the economic future of the town

Potential closure of the Tourist Information Centre.

David Cummings, Chairman of Monmouth and District Chamber of Trade commented:

"We are very pleased to announce that, due to the efforts of Monmouth Chamber and Chepstow County Councillor Jacqui Sullivan, we have managed to secure a consultation period concession from County Hall. Initially this was for a period of 6 weeks beginning in January. Now we understand that the consultation period will be extended for an indefinite period. This will bring its own complications for those involved. In this statement we have simplified our description of the process that will take place for reasons of clarity and brevity. It is not clear if the people of Monmouth will be given the chance to voice their views to County Hall. Therefore, if you want to support Monmouth TIC it is very important that you sign the petition in one of the businesses in town showing the yellow on green sticker ASAP".

Monmouth Friday and Saturday markets will not be returning to outside the Shire Hall.

David Cummings , Chairman of Monmouth and District Chamber of Commerce commented:

"There have been many rumours around town this year about the market not returning to its former location. In each instance, I have been told previously by county council officers that no decision has been made and that the Chamber would be kept informed of when a report had been submitted to cabinet on the matter and we would be given the opportunity to consult with Chamber members on this issue , particularly those who are shop keepers. We are disappointed that these assurances have seemingly not been met.

Beacon readers will understand that shop keepers who pay rent and business rates will compare the approximately £10 per market stand per day with approximately £100 they pay in business rates each week, for a similar size space. They are required to pay this amount no matter what the weather, whereas market traders may seemingly come and go as they please.

Monmouth has always been a market town and it would indeed be a pity if there was no longer a Friday and Saturday market. However, in order for a market to be successful and bring shoppers into town the quality , variety and number of stalls must be consistent. Since the market moved to the small Cattle Market car park there have been days (usually Fridays ) when the lack of market traders must cast doubt in the minds of county council officers about the logic of loosing car park revenue.

On several occasions over the last few years, Chamber committee members have approached market traders and invited them individually or as a body to join the Chamber, buy they have not made that step to become part of the business community of the town. Ten years ago they were Chamber members.

From the evidence of those Chamber members who have expressed opinions to me over the last year on the subject of the market's permanent location, the overwhelming view is that the market should return to the Shire Hall, even if reduced in size. Not only because this will reinvigorate the top of town, but also that it would make available the prime 34 car parking spaces in the small cattle market car park , which are particularly of benefit to the less physically able shopper.

The case has been made that if the market returned to outside the Shire Hall the market traders vehicles would take up much needed spaces in Glendower Street car park. County Council councillors and officers at County Hall are aware of the radical proposals proposed by the Chamber some 5 years ago to create up to 75 more car parking spaces at the top of town to alleviate the problem in Glendower Street car park . Sadly, those at County Hall who have the ability to progress with this solution have chosen to reduce its importance to a level where time this year (so far) cannot, or will not be allocated. We find this situation totally unacceptable. We have now received assurances that progress will be made shortly, but remain pessimistic about the speed of progress or the outcome.

UNACCEPTABLE PROPOSED CHANGES TO PARKING CHARGES IN PUBLIC CAR PARKS

David Cummings, Chairman of Monmouth and District Chamber of Trade commented:

"I have just read through 124 pages of the Minutes of the Select Committee meeting of 16^th December and the Final Report which propose changes to the parking charges structure in council car parks and are based on the consultants report commissioned by MCC.

The Chamber feels that this report has been produced without the benefit of a clear remit from MCC and the principles on which it is based are flawed. . The statement that car park revenue is dropping is based on the four years to the end of 2008 . What happened to the figures for 2009 and at least the first half of 2010? .For a business in the private sector to put up charges for use of a facility where revenue is falling (if it is ) would be commercial suicide. There seem no plans to consult with the actual users of the car parks whose input must surely be fundamental to the car parking issue.

The statement that as a result of the proposed changes revenues would only increase by 3.5% is most likely to be within the margins of statistical error of plus or minus of the data used and therefore cannot be promoted as a basis for decisions in a report. We vehemently oppose charging for parking on Sundays , loosing free car parking and increasing the chargeable period of each day from 5pm to 6pm.

In short term car parks, creating a new rate for one hour parking and increasing the rate for two hours, but keeping the four hour rate the same, goes completely against the consultants proposed objective of short term car parks for the short term user.

The consultants report states ""However, an appropriate charging structure in town centres should also look to encourage short-term visitors such as shoppers and the resultant positive impacts this can have on the economic vitality and wellbeing of town and village centres" . "Traders and businesses within these towns and villages are dependent upon people being able to park locally to access their services at a reasonable cost. As a result, the level at which charges are set needs to consider the impact on local business. Whilst setting policy,consideration should be given to sufficient provision of parking so that all potential consumers are able to access local business outlets".

We believe that the consultants report has been sitting gathering dust since early 2009 on an office shelf at County Hall and consider that the best thing to do with it would be to recycle the paper it is written on and start again"

Congratulations to the Festival Committee....

David Cummings, Chairman of Monmouth and District Chamber of Commerce commented : 2^nd August 2010.

"Congratulations to the Festival Committee on staging another great Festival in Monmouth. Our thanks must also go to all those businesses who sponsored the Festival and also Monmouth Town Council for their contribution. We are lucky to have volunteers to help run the event and collect donations,  including several Town Councillors.

The Festival provides an important source of income to so many local businesses over the nine day period including pubs, restaurants, take-aways and supermarkets, who will no doubt wish to thank the thousands of families,  local and otherwise,  who attended the events each night. It was so nice to see people from 0 to 90 years old enjoying the events of the Festival ,  with the brilliant Uncle Funk closing  on Saturday night . Let us hope that the Festival continues as a town based event in the coming years, not only for ease of access on foot for residents,  but also for local businesses to benefit."