THE controversial plans to alter the layout of Agincourt Square have been abandoned, writes Andy Sherwill.

After the vociferous opposition to the extensions to the pavement at the en-trance to Church Street, and the problems experienced during the brief trial of the scheme, has led Monmouth-shire County Council to shelve the project.

The trial was part of the Safe Routes to School scheme, instigated by Monmouth Comprehensive School and implemented by the local authority, following an initiative from the Welsh Assembly.

Jenny Lewis, the council's area manager for central Monmouthshire said: "We obviously need to do some more work on how to provide safer access for pedestrians in the area, and of course, we will consult as widely as possible on any future schemes.

"However, the money for this phase of the Safe Routes to School scheme will not be available after the end of March, so there will be no further plans drawn up in the immediate future."

Celebrating victory, the leading campaigner against the scheme John Reed Smith, owner of Agincourt Antiques said: "This is a 'VA Day' for traders and residents alike - Victory in Agincourt Square' - it proves that a concerted campaign can lead to a successful conclusion."

Mrs Lewis added: "Despite the rather confrontational nature of parts of last week's public meeting, I think that it proved to be very useful.

"We found the comments collected by local traders very illuminating, and we took many of them into account in the decision to cancel the proposed scheme."

The current works taking place in Agincourt Square to create a footpath along the cobbles in front of the Shire Hall does not include the creation of a dedicated crossing.

"However, there may be a strip of road that is marked by different surfacing which will indicate the way to a dropped kerb on the new pavement, but because of the road layout in the square, it is not possible to make a crossing where pedestrians have priority."