PROPOSED changes to a key road junction in the centre of Chepstow has been described as ‘an absolute joke’ by a town councillor.

Marc Le Peltier, councillor for St Mary’s, spoke to the Beacon after a restriction on the redevelopment of the former Mabey Bridge site in Chepstow was lifted last month.

The site is to provide up to 600 houses, offices, workshops, commercial and leisure facilities. The development will be from the existing A48 by the Station Road junction.

A holding restriction in December 2014 by Welsh Government prevented progress at the site while it was decided how best to accommodate the impact of potentially 600 homes on the trunk road. With the process now complete, a representative from developer Savills made a presentation to Chepstow Town Council last Wednesday (20th July) evening.

Tim Gent, a director at Savills, updated councillors on the progress of the scheme.

He spoke of the numerous studies and surveys that have taken place, describing changes to roadways in the site and the government’s proposal for the A48 junction.

The site has proved controversial, with particular concerns raised about the effects the increased traffic would have on the already struggling to cope A48.

There were concerns raised in the meeting about the affect that the development would have on traffic in the area, with questions posed by councillors asking whether the solution raised by Welsh Government is a solution that residents of the town will be happy with.

Cllr Le Peltier said: “I’m very concerned about it.

“I think the development itself is alright, it will bring some much-needed houses to Chepstow, but I did raise my concerns about the infrastructure.

“The notion that they are going to introduce the number of houses with the infrastructure in place is ridiculous.

“It’s an absolute joke.”

The plans include the introduction of a left-turn-only lane on Station Road junction and the reversal of the one-way system on Nelson Street.

“If these are introduced, it would no longer be possible for traffic to bypass Hardwick Hill by driving through town via Beaufort Square and the High Street. There are also plans to introduce a dedicated zebra crossing on Nelson Street.

“We are going to have hundreds of cars going in and out of Station Road every day,” Cllr Le Peltier continued.

“There could be as many as 600 houses, so lets say that there will be 1,200 cars and every household will have two children.

“We know that as lovely as Chepstow is it is used for people to commute to Bristol, Gloucester and Cardiff, and the idea that the development is going to bring in this ‘green infrastructure’ where everyone cycles everywhere is absolutely ridiculous.”

There are no plans to increase the capacities of local schools, leading to concerns from Cllr Le Peltier and others that the schools will struggle to cope.

“There appears to have been no thought considered for the local primary schools, or for local businesses. Tesco on a Saturday morning is taking over half an hour to leave as it is. That’s before you have the traffic on the A48 and going up Hardwick Hill, which is the fifth most polluted road in south Wales.”

Mr Gent told the Beacon that Savills “continue to believe we can use a system that is more efficient.”

He went on to add that for the full development the system will be needed but it is likely that smaller improvements will take place gradually.

Mr Gent added that, with the holding decision lifted, a decision is now in the hands of Monmouthshire County Council (MCC).

He said he hoped that an application could be sent off to MCC in the autumn, and if all proceeds well, work on the site could start next year.