Market town retail park rejected

The plans would have included a supermarket and car parks

Controversial proposals to redevelop part of Abergavenny's town centre have been rejected by planning councillors.

Council officers had backed a scheme for a retail park on the old cattle market of the historic market town.

But the plans were turned down for a second time by the planning committee at a packed meeting after they saw the full report of objections to the plan.

A record 3,500 letters of objection were sent to the council from concerned shoppers and traders.

The developers said they were "obviously disappointed" by the decision and were considering an appeal.

People are going to have to face that community facilities such as a library and a cinema could now be lost Richard Evans, spokesman for developers

Richard Evans, spokesman for Henry Boot Developers said: "We have always believed this scheme would be good for the town and we are waiting for the official decision notice before we take a decision on whether to appeal and possibly resubmit our application.

"The thing is that we have always believed this is a regeneration issue for the town centre and that hasn't changed and is still an issue.

"People are going to have to face that community facilities such as a library and a cinema could now be lost."

The town council and the local chamber of trade were opposed to the redevelopment.

Wales's Design Commission had also been unusually critical, saying the scheme is unacceptable and should be radically overhauled.

Existing traders said they would lose up to a third of their business

After the meeting, regeneration cabinet member Bob Greenland said he was "disappointed" but accepted the committee's decision.

If approved, the plan would have meant a new Asda supermarket, more shops, a cinema, library and large car parks built in the town.

The council had said it would mean £11m from the developers Henry Boot - money which they said would have benefited the town.

The plan was rejected once before on design grounds, but after the developers submitted an amendment to the plan, Monmouthshire council officials recommended it for approval.

However, at Tuesday's packed meeting it emerged that the council had not seen the full document citing objections last time round.

This is just a great result for us. We are over the moon Andrew Hinksman

In the intervening time a legal submission had been made listing the full range of objections, which included submissions from Gwent Police, Friends of the Earth and the Design Commission for Wales as well as local residents and traders.

Andrew Hinksman, president of Abergavenny's Chamber of Trade, told BBC Wales' news website: "We've been vindicated by the fact that officers had not had the full report but now have had the full information.

"It's been seen that information that was critical was withheld. This is just a great result for us. We are over the moon."

Traders in the town had said they feared a loss of business because of the plans.