A REVAMP for a historic pedestrian shopping area and listed buildings is being planned.

Welcome archways could be installed across the entrances to Monmouth’s Church Street, which as the town's 'Old Quarter' is home to the Grade II-listed Savoy Theatre and 24 other protected buildings, and is a favourite location for film crews.

Before the construction of Priory Street in the 1830s, the narrow road linking Agincourt Square at the top of Monnow Street with St Mary’s Street, was the main eastern entrance to the town for centuries.

Once home of the town's butchery trade and historically known as 'Butcher's Row', it has recently starred in several TV dramas, including Michael Sheen's The Way, Oprah Winfrey's Black Cake, Guy Ritchie's Young Sherlock starring Colin Firth and Dr Who.

Monmouth Town Council has been awarded funding from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund to support the regeneration of Church Street and the adjacent White Swan Court, but must spend the money by March.

It has asked Monmouthshire Council for planning permission for archway welcome signs, a canopy of lights along the street and ‘finger post’ signs directing pedestrians to White Swan Court, as well as the installation of an information board at the entrance near Agincourt Street.

The town council is also seeking permission to replace and install catenary curving wires on a number of listed buildings in Church Street.

It first applied for planning permission in September but submitted revised plans in December.

A report in support of the plan says: “The regeneration programme is aimed at supporting the businesses that trade in Church Street and White Swan Court.

“Whilst the difficulties being encountered by retail in town centres generally is widely acknowledged, Church Street and White Swan Court have been suffering decline in trade and occupancy for some time and the town council has highlighted the street and court as in need of support, hence the application to UK government for financial support.”

It said it is also concerned that a downturn in trade would result in a lack of maintenance of the listed buildings and highlighted the “unsightly appearance of 10 Church Street (formerly the greengrocers)”.

The council claimed that since Covid, footfall has declined “with a spike of empty units in the area in 2021” and its research shows it is overlooked, while works by Welsh Water last year saw the street dug up for weeks on end.

“A survey carried out by the Town Council as part of this project, highlighted that many residents and visitors to the town do not know where Church Street and White Swan Court are, or only use it as a walking route and not as a destination for shopping, eating or socialising.”

The archways will be attached to existing CCTV posts, rather than historic buildings, to reduce the impact while the additional catenary wires will be installed on the Nationwide branch at 4 Church Street to Rossiters Books, the British Red Cross shop to Rossers Chemist, the Chop Shop to Extons and from Woodys Attic to Meraki Hairdressers.