CWMBRAN and Abergavenny have the lowest percentage of empty shops in Wales, a new report reveals.

Research carried out by the Local Data Company shows Cwmbran’s shop vacancy is 6 per cent, the lowest in Wales, while Abergavenny has the second lowest rate with 7.9 per cent.

It is a different story for Newport, though, with the city having the highest shop vacancy rate in Wales with 27.9 per cent.

The average shop vacancy rate in Wales is around 18 per cent.

Traders in Cwmbran and Abergavenny said the news was positive for the areas but some felt that more could still be done.

Abergavenny milliner Alison Tod said: “I think Abergavenny attracts people because it has a very strong history of family businesses.

Everyone helps each other and provides good customer service.”

Chris Wilkins, manager of HJ Edwards Butchers, in Flannel Street, Abergavenny, said: “Abergavenny has a nice ambience and a wide range of individual shops which brings people in.

“But I’ve worked here for 30 years and a lot of businesses are teetering on the brink of closure.”

Paula McCabe, of Abergavenny Chamber of Trade, said: “Abergavenny is a desirable area to come to and the traders support each other.

“The local authority helps us too, such as with free parking over Christmas, but more could still be done to help us further such as more free parking.”

Operations manager at Cwmbran Shopping, Martyn Haftowski, said: “I think it’s excellent news for Cwmbran shopping centre. I think our success is based on our offer of free parking and our great mixture of tenants.”

ANewport council spokeswoman said the council is working hard to entice new businesses and customers into the city centre through projects such as the Friars Walk development. She said a number of shops were deliberately vacant following the compulsory purchase of properties in John Frost Square.

EDITORIAL COMMENT: City needs a new model

IT IS worrying that towns and city centres in Wales are more likely to have empty shops than their English or Scottish counterparts.

But it is not all doom and gloom. In this south-east corner there is some glimmer of optimism.

Cwmbran, which time and time again seems to top shopping leagues, has the lowest vacancy rates at just 6 per cent. That is quite an achievement in the current economic climate.

The market town of Abergavenny is not far behind, with just under eight per cent of shops unoccupied.

But in Newport, where the figures will not come as a surprise to anyone who lives and works here, the vacancy rate of 27.9 per cent is the highest in Wales.

However, it is fair to point out that some of the shops are vacant because they were bought under compulsory purchase legislation in readiness for the development of a new shopping centre, which then did not happen.

Whatever the reason for the high vacancy rate, though, it is not good news for our city and illustrates once again that perhaps a different approach is needed to try to attract new retail businesses.

At the end of the day what people want to see is shops which are occupied. People flock to Cwmbran for that reason.

Abergavenny has a distinct flavour of its own which helps it maintain a strong shopping centre.

Perhaps Newport has to look at the these places to adopt some of their business models to help it get back on its feet.