THE preferred design for the Brewery Yard development must come with a 'financial health warning', an Abergavenny councillor has said, after it was revealed the scheme is likely to cost more than £2million.

Councillor Chris Woodhouse said that whilst the design (the most popular of three put forward) was favoured by most following public meetings and workshops in schools, the funding for the scheme (which will cost in-excess of £2.7m) may not be there.

"The town must have ambition. We must not look back in a few years and say we didn't go far enough. There has to be a financial health warning" said Cllr Woodhouse at a Bryn y Cwm area committee meeting.

Monmouthshire county council's regeneration officer, Colin Phillips, updated the committee on the Brewery Yard design study, which is being carried out by architects MacGregor Smith.

"A commitment was undertaken from the outset of the project to work with key organisations, representatives and stakeholders in the town to produce a design that would have full support," said Mr Phillips.

The scheme is expected to cost in excess of £2.7m. Mr Phillips admitted despite £1m in funding from the Authority there is still 'a gap to meet'. He explained that the architects came up with three options and chose one for consultation. Key criteria considered included linkage between the re-re-development and the town, the market and parking facilities.

The preferred option would see Cibi stream become a feature of the site, glazed canopies with space for 74 stalls and four widened terraces created.

Traffic in Cross Street is a key issue and the officers said that an alternative route into Market Street is needed.

Concerns over the design came from Cllr Rob Griffiths, who felt that the number of stairwells would present a problem for the elderly and questioned the point of the stream.

Cllr Jane Foulser criticised the proposed public artwork: "There could be something much more beautiful there. I want to see something in keeping with a 'good old fashioned market'.

Mr Phillips explained that whilst some of the proposals put forward are a bit 'quirky' they may not be included in the final design.

Chair of the Bryn Y Cwm Committee, Cllr Eric Saxon said: "This will be the envy of Monmouthshire."

The favoured design is due to be on display at a public exhibition outside the One-Stop shop in Cross Street on Friday (1pm-5pm) and Saturday (9.30am-1pm).

The favoured design is expected to be on display at a public exhibition outside the One-Stop shop in Cross Street on Friday (1pm-5pm) and Saturday (9.30am-1pm).

A planning application for the scheme is expected to be submitted to Monmouthshire county council in April.