DESPITE plans to reduce speed limits on two routes in the county having to be looked at again, the proposals are set to go ahead.

Monmouthshire County Council's (MCC) cabinet decided in its meeting at the beginning of January to put 50mph speed limits along the B4598 Penpergwm-Usk and the route from Llanvihangel Gobion-Raglan roundabout.

The drop from the national speed limit had been passed by cabinet but a number of councillors called the decision in to be looked at again by the Strong Communities Select Committee on Thursday 29th January.

The main reason behind this was that the plans hadn't gone through the correct channels before going to cabinet.

There were also concerns with the figures regarding additional travel time and comments from interested parties were left off the proposals.

At the meeting on Thursday, chair of the committee, Councillor Simon Howarth said: "The questions put forward now would have been asked in April and saved them being asked today. One of the reasons It's come to select (committee) is to clear these matters up."

Cllr Howarth also said: "I did feel that there was a lot more we could do with this road."

The plans for the B4598 don't include Llanfair Kilgeddin as the speed limit there has already been reduced.

"We've set a 40mph limit at Llanfair Kilgeddin, which I know is totally separate even though I feel we could have put signs further out. I would look for 40mph going all the way to Chain Bridge – we should have looked at that," said Cllr Howarth.

Cllr Sarah Jones, from the Llanover ward, said: "People have been campaigning for 15 years to lower the speed limits.

"I think the biggest concern now is that we could halt the process and could throw a spanner in the works.

"While we might be looking for further changes to that stretch as mentioned, it could actually prevent it going forward and that would be of huge concern for residents."

The committee all agreed that reductions to the speed limit along the proposed stretches of road were needed so voted to go ahead with the proposals, on the understanding that the correct process should be followed in future. It was agreed that, despite the proposals not being as all-encompassing as they could be, it was better to have something in place than nothing at all.

With the Strong Communities Select Committee's agreement with the council's cabinet decision, there are no further blocks to the plans being carried out which will proceed as soon as possible.