CONCERNS have been raised about the accessibility of Chepstow High Street to visitors with mobility issues.

Chepstow resident Liam Perkins-Edge, who was temporarily wheelchair-bound in an accident in June, has spoken about his struggle to be self reliant within the town.

“Many places in town, mainly the High Street, became unreachable. The shops and pubs I’d usually go to suddenly became off-limits to me without relying heavily on the help of others. It has made me realise how hard it must be for people with mobility issues to try and lead an independent life and still access the town centre. I could only really access Wetherspoons and Tesco without relying on others because they had the space for ease of access. But I missed out on the smaller, independent areas I believe make Chepstow what it is.”

When contacted, County Councillor for the Chepstow Larkfield Ward, Cllr Phil Hobson, said: “In Chepstow, a big issue we face when making the town accessible is very difficult to address, and that is the sloping layout of the town. Although not perfect, when the town centre was redeveloped around 10 years ago a lot of the gradients were eased, improving access for everyone.

“We have improved the situation wherever we can. But of course a part of the High Street that is very difficult to change or make accessible is the different Listed and Graded buildings, especially if they are privately owned businesses.

“One avenue we are trying to improve is to lower the amount of obstacles on the pavements of the High Street, such as A-Frames and ‘street furniture.’

“We have a very vocal constituency, who have highlighted this as an issue, and we are currently in a consultation period about how to deal with pavement clutter. Of course, it is difficult as every resident should be able to live independent lives, but we also must be mindful of respecting private businesses who bring value to the town. I think the hardest thing is to strike that balance correctly.”

Residents who have issues with access on Chepstow High Street, and anywhere in Monmouthshire, are encouraged to contact Monmouthshire Voices, a platform for local communities, particularly those with disabilities, to have a voice about the development and delivery of the services they receive. Monmouthshire Voices also runs an Access 4 All Forum every four months with Monmouthshire County Council. This forum allows residents to communicate any issues they may have in a constructive setting. They recently held a forum at County Hall, Usk, to discuss disability and benefits. To contact Monmouthshire Voices, and for more information, email Pennie Walker at MonmouthshireVoices@

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