Council policy Suspended Amid Backlash

Following recent events with the proposed charges with A Boards and seating, Monmouthshire County Council has decided to suspend the charges whilst looking at other options. 

Council Leader Peter Fox and Chief Executive Paul Matthews said “We’ve read the Facebook messages and the points made are fair. Traders in this County are serious sensible people and they play a massive role in the success of our Towns – without them we are lost. The policy around A Boards, Street furniture was agreed back in July 2016 after many months of deliberation. It was agreed well before anybody became aware of the madness being introduced to the rural trading community by the latest business rate revaluation exercise – an issue that we have been working hard on with local Chambers of Trade for months to lobby for change. It is NOT our goal to make life hard for traders and as such we are minded to ask Council to re-consider their approach in light of changed circumstances and in the meantime set aside aa policy that may be seen to frustrate trade. In doing so there are a couple of points to highlight.

1. It is doubtful that traders insurance does cover them for accidents caused by A Boards / street furniture. We would encourage them to check this. These accidents don’t happen very often but we live in a ‘claim mad world’ so please check your cover.
2. We want to have sensible conversations about the positioning of street furniture to ensure that pushchairs / wheelchairs can move easily around our towns without having to go onto the road. We know traders will want to help us with this.
3. Our time is better spent in continuing to work together on events / attractions that draw people to Monmouthshire rather than falling out with each other

The money side is not material to the Council so there will be no charges to traders anywhere in Monmouthshire for the time being.”

This is great news for local businesses across Monmouthshire as well as residents who opposed those plans