Campaigners to keep Goldwire Lane open to traffic have been encouraged by a Freedom Of Information (FOI) request regarding the consultation Monmouthshire County Council made over the proposal.

The road is currently under an experimental six-month road closure, meaning it's closed to through traffic as part of a trial period. This is part of a larger initiative to promote walking and cycling in the area, and the county council is considering making the closure permanent.

The lane is now accessible only to residents and those with legitimate access needs (like deliveries or emergency services).

Campaigners have argued that flooding on nearby roads during a recent event demonstrated the need to keep Goldwire Lane open for vehicular access.

But the council says the closure is intended to improve safety for vulnerable road users and that there have been near misses on the lane.

Under the FOI released, the results reveal that 241 people filled it in. Out of those, 222 said they did not want the road closed, five said somewhat and only 14 said they wanted it closed for vehicles.

Campaigners have had the support of Cllr Martin Newell who said his role as county councillor for the Monmouth Town ward is to represent the views and interests of residents.

“The FOI clearly shows that only a small minority of locals want Goldwire Lane to close. I look forward to working with Cllr Catrin Maby who is the MCC cabinet member responsible for this department to find a solution to upgrade Goldwire Lane so it can become a safe shared space for pedestrians and traffic to use,” he said.

An MCC spokesperson said: "We acknowledge the feedback received regarding the traffic order for Goldwire Lane. While we appreciate input from all residents, it is essential for the council to balance the road safety benefits of restricting vehicular traffic on this narrow road, which is an important route for pedestrians, with the inconvenience that the short detour for motorists accessing Drybridge Street will create.

No decision has been made yet regarding progressing the traffic order. MCC Traffic Engineers will carefully evaluate the consultation responses, and then a report will be drafted for the Cabinet Member's consideration."