ABERGAVENNY could become the latest town in Monmouthshire to get a Costa Coffee shop.

The national outlet, which has shops across the UK, has asked Monmouthshire council for permission to change the use of the former Stead and Simpsons shoe shop on the High Street.

If planners grant its request, it will create eight full and eight part-time jobs in the town.

In its application, graduate planner Rachel Leigh said that Costa outlets generated high levels of customers and that making use of two units would generate development.

Miss Leigh said that in a climate where the number of shops is falling, the prospect of an active and vibrant set-up such as Costa should be welcome.

Barry Greenwood, of Old Monmouth Road, who regularly shops in Abergavenny said the town is already saturated with coffee shops.

He said: “We should be preserving the character of the town. Abergavenny is chocabloc with coffee shops. This is exactly what we don’t want.”

Cllr John Prosser said: “It would have been nice to remain a retail store but I welcome the addition of muchneeded jobs.”

Jenny Taylor, vice-chair of Abergavenny and District Tourist Association said: “Abergavenny is overdosed on caffeine. People will go to Costa because of the name and not give the individual shops a chance.”

The application has yet to be considered by the council.