NEARLY 300 residents packed into a ‘Congestion Free Chepstow’ public meeting alongside politicians and councillors to discuss short and medium-term ways of tackling the town’s chronic traffic and air pollution problems.

Peter Evans, of event organiser Transition Chepstow, said: “The meeting explored options for swiftly reducing congestion and air pollution in Chepstow, which has one of the highest rates of air pollution in the UK.

“One hundred per cent of politicians invited attended and over 270 members of the public, including Chepstow town councillors, and councillors from surrounding areas, including England.

“It quickly became apparent many solutions need cross border collaboration.”

The meeting at Chepstow School last Thursday (April 11) included several in-depth presentations, including proposals for changing the layout at High Beech roundabout, lift sharing, encouraging more children to walk to school, electric cars and better rail links.

Members of the public called for better public transport, increased active travel and a Hays Gate junction to divert traffic from Rogiet and Caldicot off the High Beech roundabout.

At the end of the meeting, chaired by Tim Melville (Transition Chepstow coordinator), attendees voted by a show of hands for the top five swift resolutions

Improving public transport was top with 90 per cent, improving traffic flow at High Beach roundabout using white lines got 85 per cent, major redevelopment of High Beech roundabout 70 per cent, with Hayes Gate Junction diverting traffic from Caldicot and Rogiet before High Beech and an increase of active travel (cycling and walking) both receiving 50 per cent.

Mr Evans said: “Transition Chepstow in partnership with elected representatives will pursue swift solutions to congestion and air pollution.

“There was also very strong support for a bypass, but this was outside the remit of the meeting, which was focusing on swift solutions.”

A statement from Ken Skates, Welsh Minister for the Economy and Transport read out at the meeting, said: “I’m always keen to work with communities in order to identify ways of reducing pollution and congestion.  

“Unfortunately, I’m unable to attend this evening’s meeting, but applaud the initiative taken by Transition Chepstow to bring people together to discuss possible solutions to these problems. 

“My officials will brief me fully after the event and I will give careful consideration to any solutions that can be taken forward.”

Monmouth MP David Davies, who attended alongside Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay, Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) leader Cllr Peter Fox, MCC Strategic Transport Group chairman Cllr David Dovey, and MCC opposition leader Cllr Dimitri Batrouni, said: “Traffic is grinding to a halt in Chepstow partly as a result of the enormous amount of housebuilding going on in the Forest of Dean.

“Air pollution levels in the Hardwick Hill area now regularly breach World Health Organisation (WHO) limits. Transition Chepstow has looked carefully at this and come up with simple solutions that could make a big difference.

“There were representatives of Monmouthshire County Council and the Welsh Government’s transport department at the meeting and I will be writing formally to ask them to properly consider the plans to change the roundabouts around to allow a smoother flow of traffic.

“I still believe the long-term answer is a bypass. Traffic travelling from Gloucestershire towards the M48 and M4 should not be going through Chepstow. However, local residents should not have to wait years for action to be taken and we need solutions now.”

Anyone wanting to get involved in shaping the proposals should contact Tim Melville on [email protected]

People with a good knowledge of public transport infrastructure developments would be particularly welcome.