Residents of a beautiful little UK town that recently saw a backlash to a new Co-op being opened in its high street have spoken of it being full of friendly people and a haven for independent businesses. Crickhowell near Abergavenny was officially named as the UK’s best high street in 2018. A year later, it was named the number one place to live in Wales.
Herbert Haines, 69, who works for Tools for Self Reliance Cymru, a charity based in the town that has been sending equipment to a college in Tanzania for nearly 40 years. “It’s a lovely little town,” he said. “It’s pretty. It’s got shops, nice little independents.” Mr Haines is also a fan of Crickhowell’s pubs and butchers, and says its “friendly” people help each other out. However, controversy has recently reared its head, as a local branch of the Co-op opened last year after locals “fought against it”.
“Opening a national store doesn’t necessarily serve the community very well,” the tool specialist said. “Planners forced it through against a lot of people’s wishes,” he added. “It will be interesting to see how the town evolves going forward,” Mr Haines said, as he hopes the area will strike a right balance between convenience and character.
Another resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “For something that was opposed, it’s ever so busy. People are using it.”
She added that locals were against it because “being the small high street it is, everybody wants to shop local”.
“But now it’s open, people are using it, so it can’t be that bad,” they said.
Jane Mantle, 60, who has run The Courtroom Cafe with her sisters Carol Richards, 66, and Sian Baynton, 68, for 38 years said the store does not affect her business.
“The lack of a bypass nearby means people have to drive through the town. “We’re very busy here, and we’ve been for the last 40 years,” Ms Mantle said.
“But it hasn’t just come overnight.” She added that “everything is run by locals”, and the fact that Crickhowell is nestled in a valley means it is “quite a picturesque place”.
The town has remained more or less unchanged since the sisters’ childhoods, the businesswoman added. “It’s the same as when we were 10,” Ms Mantle said.
“The shops haven’t changed.” Locals also ensure the area is “well looked after”, but, despite appearances, it is not flawless. “Parking is our biggest problem,” the local added.
“The town is wonderful, other than parking. There’s not enough and it’s too expensive.”
Peter Webb, 54, has been director of Webbs of Crickhowell, a family-owned department store that has been operating since 1936.
He moved back to the area in 2002 after stints in London and St. Albans.
Crickhowell is “how every town should be”, home to “different people with different backgrounds”, he told The Express.
“It’s a nice community to be in. People know each other, people look out for each other.”
The town’s many visitors are good for business, he added. Mr Webb said: “It’s a good tourist destination with high footfall.”
He as well said that parking is an “issue”, but added: “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”
Greg Bevan-Jones, who owns Latte-da Coffee and Kitchen with his wife, Lyn, said: “The town is nestled in the most stunning countryside – the gateway to Bannau Brycheiniog [The Brecon Beacon National Park]. The majority of the shops are family owned with several generations of the family involved in the business.”
He added that the town has several festivals each year: Green Man, Crickhowell Walking Festival, Open Gardens, Food Festival and Open Studios for local artists.
In addition, the area is a centre for walkers, cyclists and canoeists, Mr Bevan-Jones said, and there are good restaurants, pubs, bars and coffee shops.
“Our own cafe has been number one on TripAdvisor for 10 years. We are also a stop-off for large groups of cyclists as they can bring their bikes into our garden for safety.”
He too mentioned that residents are “friendly and welcoming”.
But the business owner added: “I can only think of one negative, that is that there is limited parking on weekdays.
“Although the local high school offers free parking on weekends and school holidays.”
A spokesperson for Powys County Council said: “We have 123 spaces, seven of which are marked for disabled parking, at the pay and display car park on Beaufort Street in Crickhowell.
“There is a good supply of on-street parking within the town on the High Street and on the A40, which provides one hour parking for short-term visitors.
“The council has recently carried out a cross-party car parking review, which will see the re-introduction of the one-hour parking tariff to all long-stay car parks.
“New car parking tariffs will also be introduced from next month with one-hour parking costing £1.50, 1-2 hours costing £2.50, 2-4 hours costing £3.50 and all-day-parking costing £5.
“The council is also working with the town council, who have published a place plan where parking provision has been identified.”
A spokesperson for the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority said: “Change of use of the former Crickhowell Conservative Club to Class A1 retail use was approved by the Authority’s Planning Committee in May 2021.
“The planning application in question followed all due process, as is the case with all applications submitted to the Authority.”
The Express also approached the Co-op for comment.