STUDENTS from Wyedean School took their campaign to make their walk to school safer to the National Assembly – and left an invitation to the transport minister to see for herself why they want a cut in the speed limit.

The Wyedean campaigns group, which is made up of sixth formers, wants to see a reduction on the new Wye Bridge between Chepstow and Sedbury from 50mph to 30mph.

They presented it to members of the Assembly's cross-party petitions committee who will discuss it with transport minister Edwina Hart.

The group also met Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay who suggested the issue could be raised to have a wide-ranging debate in the Assembly about speed limits across Wales.

The sixth-formers travelled to Cardiff with Chepstow town councillors David and Stephanie Dove, Ned Heywood and Dale Rooke and town clerk Sandra Bushell who have backed the campaign.

Campaign spokesperson Anna Dewar said: "Several hundred pupils walk across the bridge from Chepstow every day.

"I walk it myself and with traffic coming past at 50mph it is very scary.

"There have been two accidents where pupils have been injured on the bridge and we think the speed limit should be reduced to 30mph for safety reasons."

She said the meeting with petitions committee chair William Powell, member Russell George and Mr Ramsay had been "very positive".

Mr Ramsay said: "I am very impressed by how hard these young people have campaigned to draw attention to this important issue.

"They have the full support of Chepstow Town Council who hosted a meeting with representatives from the Gloucestershire County Council, Monmouthshire County Council and the South Wales Trunk Road Agency, where they stressed the fact that in recent years the number of children attending Wyedean School had increased dramatically, with large numbers crossing the A48 Bridge at peak times.

"It was also pointed out that the narrow carriageway puts the safety of pedestrians in jeopardy.

"The Welsh Government has said they will not support the installation of barriers at this location and the South Wales Trunk Road Agency Officers say that relatively recently the speed limit was reduced to 50mph, which they considered was reasonable in traffic management terms.

"Slowing traffic to 30mph would undoubtedly reduce the severance between the town centre and Chepstow. Pupils obviously care very deeply about this issue – I hope their petition is successful."