A COUNCILLOR marched through Pontypool carrying a placard in the shape of a coffin to highlight his fears for the future of Pontypool town centre.

Cllr Fred Wildgust carried the ‘coffin lid’ emblazoned with ‘RIP Pontypool town centre 2009 – lost through a lack of interest’. He says he made the placard after council leader Bob Wellington failed to reply to his request for an emergency meeting to discuss the town and its survival.

But his actions were described as a stunt by the council’s executive member for regeneration, Cllr Richard Clark who said: “Cllr Wildgust is aware that council business can be conducted openly in the council chamber or through appropriate channels such as the Pontypool Regeneration Partnership of which he is a member and not through the press via a series of stunts.

“Cllr Wildgust’s e-mail requesting a meeting was sent on September 16. As we were unable to accommodate his request I advised him to contact the responsible chief officer and the town centre manager as this would prove a productive use of his time.”

Cllr Wildgust is urging the council to cut business rates and market stall rents to encourage people to open businesses in the town.

And he gained the support of traders such as Stems and Gems owner Veronica Taylor who said: “It’s a good idea. Someone has to do something because a lot of shops in Pontypool are closing down.

"The town is dying.”

Cllr Wildgust says Pontypool is quickly becoming a ghost town following the closure of shops such as Crane Street Chippy and Jack in the Box.

He said: “We need immediate and direct action to reverse the trend of retail closures and business failures and protect them from the recession.

“I had a great response to the coffin lid.”

However, Pontypool Indoor Market Stall holder Sarah Atkinson says it is not all doom and gloom and her business the New York Hot Dog Company is thriving.

She said: “We won’t be resting in peace – my business is doing really well. We can’t serve people quickly enough.”