THE woman proprietor of a popular flower shop in Chepstow says she is quitting after an ill-conceived council-backed cyber-cafe has blighted the area for her and fellow shopkeepers.

Ann Thomas says failing health led her doctor to advise her to abandon her battle against the cafe on the floor above her flower business in Welsh Street, and she has sold up.

And she lays the blame at the doorstep of Monmouthshire County Council which she says has turned a deaf ear to traders in the units beneath the cafe, many of which are now empty.

Mrs Thomas said her shop of 18 years had been "a lifeline" through many trials including the serious illness of her second daughter, a divorce and the subsequent death of a dear partner, then her own kidney failure and a subsequent transplant and long fight to regain health.

"For the last year this shop and those in the near vicinity have been subjected to a continuous barrage of noise and abuse from the cyber-cafe gang," she said.

"This place is the brainchild of Monmouthshire Council. They have not thought the project through nor have they given any consideration to the impact on the small business community in the area."

She said the cafe had not even been soundproofed and those in charge seemed to lack control.

"We are unable to hear people on the telephone, or concentrate while working with customers on weddings or function plans, or even work well in harmony together."

Outside the youngsters used foul language, left rubbish and skateboarded around the units at dangerous speeds.

Mrs Thomas, who pays £4,000 rates at the premises, says complaints to the county's manager of community and culture Peter Ellis and head of youth community Georgina Jones and had been ignored.

Earlier this year when the Review first published details of Mrs Thomas' plight the council claimed that it had then received no official complaints and said the cafe "had done wonders" for the town's youth.

Mrs Thomas agrees youngsters do need somewhere to meet but says there are plenty of other places in the town where they would have less impact on their surroundings yet still be happy.

She plans to leave the town and live with friends in Clevedon when she finishes at the shop in a matter of weeks.