MONMOUTHSHIRE council’s cabinet has been recommended to withdraw charges for displays and street furniture outside shops in the county following a public outcry.

Impassioned speeches were made by campaigners at a special strong communities select committee meeting on Monday warning that maintaining the charge would hit traders.

The charge has already been introduced in the south of the county, but when it was rolled out in Abergavenny it faced a backlash from traders and the community with petitions signed by thousands of people in protest.

Monmouthshire County Council subsequently announced it was scrapping the policy, and that move was further supported by councillors at the meeting on Monday.

Lucy Hywel, of the Y-Fenni Business Community, said independent traders in Abergavenny were “fighting every day to keep their businesses alive” and that introducing the policy was “just another knock.”

Ms Hywel said A-boards, planters, tables and chairs outside shops added to the vibrancy of the town and made it different to others.

“The variety and the above average number of independent businesses is what our visitors come to Abergavenny for,” she said. “Take this away and you will kill what is working.”

Philip Bowyer, representing signatories of a petition against the charges, said tables outside shops in St John’s Square, Abergavenny, help the town thrive.

He said: “My message at the last meeting was if it’s not broken don’t try to mend it and it was trying to mend it which has created problems for people.”

Anthea Dewhurst, Monmouth town councillor, said it was important traders kept to regulations on placing street furniture outside shops.

She said most stick to the rules but that there have been incidents in Monmouth where partially sighted people tripped and injured themselves on items placed ‘randomly’ in the street.

Cllr Laura Jones (Conservative, Wyesham) said the council should retain a permit to ensure regulations are in place but she was against the introduction of charges.

“We really do not need to be putting extra charges on these businesses when they are struggling already,” she added.

But Cllr Val Smith (Independent, Llanbadoc) said although she supported initiatives to support businesses, the cost of administering a permit scheme should be paid by those receiving the permits.

Cllr Tony Easson (Labour, Dewstow) asked whether businesses which have already paid would be refunded.

And Roger Hoggins, head of operations, said the three businesses who had already paid will be reimbursed.

Councillors voted to recommend to cabinet that charges for permits are withdrawn but that charges arising from non-compliance with the permit scheme remain.

They also recommended that rules should allow businesses to occupy an area greater than the current 18 sq metres where there is no safety issue or highways obstruction.