MONMOUTHSHIRE councillors and business owners have raised questions over a report released by the county council this week which commits to revamping the county’s town centres, and have repeated calls for a rethink on car parking charges.

The report sets out proposals aimed at helping the county’s high streets survive the pandemic while maintaining social distancing.

Specific measures suggested initially for June and July include improving cycling facilities, widening pedestrian areas, increasing space for public transport and spaces for businesses to “expand into the street”.

The council has submitted an expression of interest to the Welsh Government for funding.

The report says: “If successful these temporary measures could be made permanent or at least inform Active Travel and Town Centre Regeneration plans that have been bid for in 2020/21 and potentially in the future."

Independent councillor for Mill Frances Taylor said: “I welcome the proposals that the council is to proactively invest in our high streets, though I note that as usual, Magor is left out.

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“Monmouthshire council will be dancing with the impacts of some poor decisions, such as the layout of Caldicot Asda and the county’s car parking charges.

“To have any real and sustained impact on our shops, the council needs to push the Welsh Government much further and faster on business rates and investment in new approaches to public transport.”

The council announced in January that charges for car parking would increase in the majority of its car parks, as well as a Sunday parking charge.

Labour councillor for Thornwell Armand Watts said the plan needs an “overall strategic review” and “less rhetoric”.

“The town centres in the county have been no different for a long time, with the exception of Greggs,” he said.

“The reality is that people are hooked on online shopping. We need to re-think the purposes of our town centres and add some flesh on the bones of this report. We can start by hopefully rethinking car parking charges in some of the county’s main hubs.”

Chepstow business owner Liz Amphlett, who owns Toytastik on Moor Street, said: “Pulling together is key and I see little in the report to persuade me that there will be a major consultation with business owners who will be at the heart of trying to survive the ‘new normal’.

“I would welcome the appointment of town managers for the interim period who would tackle the problems head on as I foresee that there will be different requirements for the different towns.

“I was surprised that the age old problem of the car parking charges hasn't been suggested as a measure to encourage people to continue to shop locally, and I would be interested to see if there will be available grant funding for the adjustments necessary to the internal structure of the shops such as one-way system notices and signage."