AMBITIOUS plans to regenerate Caldicot town centre were presented to shoppers and residents on a busy market day yesterday.

Around 75 people called into the Caldicot Town Team's pop-up shop unit to hear of the group's urban design project and give their own views on the current state of the town centre.

A survey produced by the group and Monmouthshire County Council was also conducted to gauge the opinions of visitors to town centre on its current state as well as the 'Caldicot Goes Pop' project.

The consultation was held in conjunction with the Free Press' Your High Street: Use it or lose it campaign which aims to raise awareness of struggling town centres in communities across Monmouthshire.

Aaron Reeks, one of the Town Team's directors, said: "From our point of view it's really good that people are getting passionate about it, as I feel that it's been a long time since people have been passionate about anything to do with the town centre in Caldicot.

"It was also good to see some new faces who hadn't known about our plans as well as the pop-up shop project."

The Town Team's vision of a revamped Caldicot town centre, designed alongside Roberts Limbrick Architects, was initially released earlier this year.

The impressions show extensive redevelopment plans including the conversion of Caldicot Library into a multi-purpose building.

Plans also include an improved linkage scheme between the town centre and the Asda development, a project that remains a contentious subject among residents and town councillors.

"These are really bold plans," admitted Mr Reeks. "They're in place to help generate conversation and arguments, which is a good thing.

"If people are against some of these plans, or say that they would change specific parts of our plans, then that's fantastic as their views are vital to what we're doing."

According to Judith Langdon, a Whole Place Officer for the county council, the public consultations also helped to spread the word of the 'Caldicot Goes Pop' unit, which was opened last month.

Several businesses have enjoyed short-term reduced rental rates to test their businesses in the town centre in the short-term.

Mrs Langdon, who was pleased by the number of people interacting with the displays, said: "It's been really encouraging, with plenty of people showing interest in changing the town centre in some way and considering these proposals put forward by Aaron and his team."

If you would like to complete the Town Team's survey, visit surveymonkey.co.uk/r/WKJBJ5W