CONTROVERSIAL plans to continue banning cars from using one of Abergavenny's main streets will continue - despite angry protests from traders.

Monmouthshire County Council says it is determined to press ahead with its trial closure of Cross Street.

The council's cabinet member for highways, Councillor Giles Howard, met traders two weeks ago to receive a petition with more than 1,200 signatures asking the council to review the temporary closure.

The Bryn y Cwm area committee decided two years ago to close Cross Street to through traffic between 11am to 4pm every day, by placing barriers outside the Angel Hotel, but this was not implemented until last December.

It was intended to start an 18-month trial run of the closure from last July but legal challenges by some traders held up the scheme for nearly six months.

Traders, including many from the market, claimed the closure was seriously affecting their trade. The street was re-opened the week before Christmas but the barriers were re-instated in the New Year.

Councillor Howard said: "I have listened to the concerns of traders over the last few months, but still believe that the closure needs more time. "I was, however, concerned at the lack of advanced signage for shoppers' car parks and signs will be installed soon by the Angel Hotel.

"A package of measures is to be announced, which will assist in marketing the town centre and the various shopping streets.

"Once the traffic order has been implemented over a continuous period of time, I will report to the council in early April on the effectiveness of the scheme and whether a permanent order should be sought."

He said the closure will no longer affect Sundays and the bollard will be removed from Market Street.

Ken Watkins is landlord of the Kings Head Hotel in Cross Street. He told the Argus that he was disappointed by the council's decision and would continue to fight against it.

He said: "Since the closure of the street I have seen a fall of about 50 per cent in my lunchtime trade, because people see the barrier and think that we are closed.

"We are determined to keep on fighting against this decision and get the council to see sense."