A TRIAL to provide safer facilities through Monmouth town takes places from this Sunday (October 18).

Monmouthshire County Council’s highways officers will widen the footways on Monnow Street between Agincourt Square and St John Street to provide a narrower carriageway designed to accommodate only one vehicle. 

This follows the completion of resurfacing works in the town.

In a scheme advocated by Vision Monmouth – the council’s action plan for the future of the town – the flow of traffic will rely on drivers of opposing vehicles conceding passage alternately. The trial will be monitored by council officers before a decision is made whether or not to make the arrangement permanent.

Monmouthshire’s traffic and network manager, Paul Keeble said: “Scaffolding erected in this section of the street last autumn created similar conditions to those we propose during the trial. 

“Our monitoring at the time suggested the trial’s arrangements would benefit pedestrians and create a better and safer town centre environment without adversely affecting traffic.”