A PETITION calling for action to end the “chaos” on the A48 near Chepstow has found more than 500 supporters in less than a fortnight.

Three mile tailbacks on the Lydney side of the Wye Bridge are now not uncommon at peak times, but the petition on the website www.change.org followed two incidents on Hardwick Hill in the centre of Chepstow which added to the misery.

The petition calls on Forest MP Mark Harper, Monmouth MP David Davies and Welsh Assembly member for Monmouth Nick Ramsay to support a by-pass.

The text of the petition reads: “Chepstow is constantly in traffic chaos!

“Even without an accident or breakdown there are queues to get through from the English side throughout the day but once there is anything out of the ordinary, Chepstow becomes gridlocked very quickly.

“Chepstow needs a by-pass.”

As the Review went to press there were 544 supporters for the petition – although there has been opposition to the idea of a by-pass from some living in Sedbury.

The pressure on the English side of the river is thought to be caused by a re-phasing of the traffic lights near the Station Road, or Tesco, junction in Chepstow.

The change has been made to allow traffic to flow freely on Hardwick Hill which is an emissions blackspot.

The tailbacks on the A48 can also lead to gridlock around Wyedean School and Offa’s Mead Academy in Sedbury.

Mr Harper said: “I am aware that, at peak times in particular, traffic can be slow moving and this is something that impacts my constituents using either end of the A48.

“I know that recently there has been an issue with road works that Monmouthshire County Council have been carrying out on the old Wye Bridge and that this has resulted in an increase in traffic.

“As the works were being carried out in Wales and in his constituency, my colleague David Davies MP wrote to the relevant Minister at the Welsh Assembly, raising a number of concerns.

“I understand that these works were due to be finished at the end of September, but will now run until December.

“More broadly, I recently met with the headteacher at Wyedean School and would be happy to raise any specific concerns that he or any other constituents have regarding traffic issues in the Sedbury area.”

Mr Davies said he regularly gets complaints about the traffic problems on the A48 and he would be happy to work with Mr Harper and Mr Ramsay on the issue.

He said: “The responsibility for a by-pass would be with the Welsh Assembly and the problem is getting them to agree to it and to pay for it.

“Because of devolution there is very little I can do as an MP because the Assembly is responsible.”

There was better news for users of the A48 after it was revealed the old Wye Bridge, which provides an alternative route between Tutshill and Chepstow, will re-open just before Christmas.

A spokesman for Monmouthshire County Council said: “The scheduled opening date for the old Wye Bridge is December 22.  

“Revising the completion date to December 22 is due to recent inclement weather.

“High moisture and humidity levels hamper painting works and also interfere with grit blasting operations, resulting in delays.

“The contractor is working weekends in an attempt to complete the works before December 22.”