TOWNSPEOPLE are beginning to fear that the "temporary" closure of Chepstow's old town bridge to traffic for repainting masks a move to ban cars forever.
"To my knowledge it has never been closed for repainting before. It was closed for strengthening some time ago but now it is to be closed until October," said Chepstow Boat Club official Rob Watkins.
"Now people are beginning to say if they can shut it for that length of time, they may say we've managed without it and things can go on that way.
"If that happens we will lose Chepstow's only direct route into the heart of town – there will just be the A48 which rushes people past the edge."
Mr Watkins has written to Welsh AM David Davies about his fears, which he says are shared by boat club members and a growing number of Chepstow traders.
"He said he is looking into the matter," said Mr Watkins, who believes the plans to close the bridge are closely linked to the Environment Agency's flood alleviation scheme which is to start soon on Chepstow's waterfront.
"CADW (the Welsh society which preserves historic buildings and structures) has denied the planners permission to fit galvanised plates to the Chepstow side of the bridge as part of the scheme," he said.
"If they pedestrianised it they would not have to fit anything at all to the bridge – all they will need are steps or a ramp over the new flood wall."
Mr Watkins is urging everyone who shares his concerns to write to their MP, Huw Edwards, and Welsh Assembly Member David Davies, asking for assurances on the future of the attractive old iron bridge which crosses the Wye in the shadow of Chepstow Castle.
The last route over the river before Brockweir, some miles upstream, it has for some years been controlled by traffic lights as a one-lane crossing.