FEARS for the safety of children and adult shoppers have led an Abergavenny committee to propose the closure of the town's High Street.

The new Bryn a Cwm area committee, which is made up of Monmouthshire county councillors from Abergavenny and the surrounding area, is proposing the High Street should be closed to all traffic between 10am - 4pm from next Easter.

Members of the committee unanimously agreed to ask the Monmouthshire county council cabinet for the street to be closed, with a barrier between the town hall and Nevill Street between those hours.

The move comes after an incident reported to council area manager Dale Roberts by former town mayor Ray Hill.

Mr Roberts said: "A street entertainer was letting off balloons and a child dived to catch one and hit the side of a van which, fortunately, was moving very slowly, so the child was not injured."

Councillor Alan Breeze (pictured) said: "The time has come to say that a child's life is far more valuable than deliveries to shops.

"Certain premises have rear entrances and they never use them.

"We should look at blocking off Cross Street at the Angel Hotel and stop drivers using the street so people can walk through the town looking at the shops in safety.

"People are walking through and vans nudge their way through. It is absolutely crazy." Highways officer Bill Parsons said the present traffic orders meant vehicles were only allowed to drive into the High Street if they were collecting heavy goods or delivering them.

"It is currently not a pedestrianised area, it is limited access.

"There were moves to make it a traffic-free zone in the mid-1990s by closing it between 10am and 4pm with a physical barrier.

"Getting cash from one of the machines does not comply with the traffic order but picking up goods which cannot be carried does comply."

Councillor Jane Foulser told how a man had collapsed unconscious in the High Street and the ambulance could not get through until a container lorry and shop-fitting van had moved.

Councillor Verona Nelmes said people would welcome the barrier because at present toddlers and babies in pushchairs were breathing in exhaust fumes.