Monmouthshire County Council is developing an ambitious ‘placemaking plan’ for the town, working alongside the town council.
The key areas identified are Monnow Street and Church Street with a new visitor experience for the Shire Hall as well as improved “integration” for the former slaughterhouse arches and the castle.
The plan for Monnow Street suggests installing secure cycle stands, seats, benches and bins as well as creating six loading bays, retaining disabled and short stay parking spaces. Rain gardens would be incorporated and create spaces for both public outdoor seating as well as trading spaces for hospitality businesses, such as tables and chairs.
The aim is to help fill the empty buildings, particularly the former banks and long-term vacancies across the center.
In Church Street and the White Swan Court, they want to enhance the area with a coordinated signage system to increase visibility from Monnow Street, create opportunities for pop-up shops and temporary retail and enhance the evening atmosphere through new street lighting as well as supporting independent businesses via public realm improvements.
For Agincourt Square they want to establish a regular program of markets and cultural events, install events supporting infrastructure such as power and water, improve pedestrian connectivity between Monnow Street and the upper town and add street furniture to encourage lingering.
For the Market Hall they want to develop and support a sustainable long-term mix of uses including a proposed arts and Culture hub and cafe as well as exploring potential ‘meanwhile’ uses.
In Blestium Street they want to create a new riverside public space with cafe and toilet facilities and reduce the carriageway width whilst maintaining necessary access, along with installing new seating areas and performance spaces along the riverside.
They want to redesign the bus station to prioritize pedestrian and cyclist-friendly spaces and install upgraded bus shelters with clear well-lit information displays and real-time travel information, incorporate public art along the waiting area walls and introduce green infrastructure and landscaping to create a more welcoming arrival space by reducing the road space to create wider footways.
A new life for the slaughterhouse arches under Priory Street is suggested with a phased development approach, firstly undertaking essential structural repairs and conservation work to protect the Grade II listed structure whilst addressing immediate sewage leaks, safety concerns and vegetation issues.
Once initial repairs are complete they want to explore funding opportunities to gradually transform the arches into a unique riverside destination that could form part of a phased approach that includes a safe and accessible path with lighting and seating and developing community and commercial spaces for events and activities
The proposals will be on display at Shire Hall until Saturday 5th April. You can view them in the Old Council Chamber during the opening hours: 11am - 4pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
To view the placemaking proposals and to take part in the online survey from 14 March, please visit www.letstalkmonmouthshire.co.uk.
Chair of the Monmouth Placemaking Steering Group, Cllr Roger Hoggins, said: “County councillors and town councillors, along with officers and local consultants, have been working with local stakeholders over the last few months and prepared a draft ‘Placemaking Plan’ for Monmouth Town. The plan, when it is finalised and approved, will seek to prioritise services and amenities along with physical features such as open spaces, routes that we travel by foot, car, bus and public facilities. The ideas prepared so far are being presented to yourselves through this consultation exercise and we are looking for your comments and feedback on what you like, dislike and what might be added.”
A spokesman for MCC said when asked about cost,: “The placemaking plan is being developed with funding from Monmouthshire County Council, Monmouth Town Council and Welsh Government. The final plan will include indicative costs for all projects, and will be used to help secure funding for delivery.Welsh Government now requires placemaking plans when local authorities are seeking regeneration funding for town centre projects, to demonstrate that the proposal is part of a strategic and coordinated approach to the long-term future of the town. We look forward to capturing responses from key stakeholders in the coming weeks during the consultation period. “