ROADS chiefs are putting their faith in new markings to help do something towards alleviating congestion at a notorious bottleneck.

A complete redesign of the High Beech roundabout on the A48 in Chepstow is on the cards long-term, but the new markings should be in place by the end of March, a 300-strong public meeting of people from both sides of the border was told.

Feelings on the traffic issue are running so high that the start of the meeting, organised by Transition Chepstow at Chepstow, had to be delayed because of congestion at the entrance.

The meeting investigated short-term solutions to fighting congestion along the A48 and other roads in the town.

Gerry Ross, of Transition’s transport group, said they had identified two options for the roundabout with a short-term solution including new road markings and kerb realignment at High Beech to increase capacity.

Simon Jones, the Welsh Government’s director of economic infrastructure, confirmed that short-term improvements would take place.

He said: “We have some money this financial year, so the plan is for the short-term work – but not the full extent Gerry was after because of the availability of width on the road – and to complete that short-term work before the end of March.

“Road widening will have to be part of the longer-term option, because when you get into road widening you have to start digging the ground up – it takes a long time and a lot of money.

“Our aim on the long-term option is to get the feasibility study completed by the end of this month which will take us in into the appraisal process.”

Transition Chepstow co-ordinator Tim Melville said: “The transport infrastructure has not been improved for the last 30 years and you (the public) are fed up to the back teeth of the traffic jams.

“The congestion is so bad, people are cycling to Bradley Stoke rather than driving,” he added.

Mr Ross said High Beech was one of a number of pinch points on the route from the Forest to the M48.

He said: “Any improvements have to be done with care, because often when you make improvements in one place, you move the problem elsewhere.”

Monmouthshire County Council Lea-der, Cllr Peter Fox (Portskewett, Welsh Con), said they remai- ned committed to a by-pass for Chepstow.

He said: “I’m really focused on a by-pass and Monmouthshire will pay for an assessment. Bridge tolls coming off have massively altered the pressures we are facing.”

The council’s chief executive, Paul Matthews, also gave an undertaking that the highways department would look at moving the pelican crossing outside Tesco further along Station Road.

It’s current site, along with a zebra crossing at the entrance to Tesco, means that at busy periods it can take shoppers more than 45 minutes to get out of the store’s car park.

There were also calls for bus timetables at every stop and real-time travel information.

For more on the public transport aspect of this story see page 27.