THE answer to the chronic traffic problems on one of the main roads into the Forest could lay across the English Channel reckons local transport boss and district councillor James Bevan.

He is championing the idea of an electricity-generating barrage across the River Wye which would also carry traffic away from the heavily-congested A48.

Cllr Bevan said the inspiration for the structure was the Rance barrage in western France which is the world's largest tidal power station.

In Chepstow itself discussions are set to continue to find a way to reduce emissions on the Hardwick Hill section of the A48. Tests show the amount of noxious gases in the air regularly breaches European Union limits.

Cllr Bevan said the road could run through Beachley north of the static caravan park and other residential areas to cross the river.

He said: "With all the development planned around Lydney and in the bottom of Chepstow the pressure on the A48 is only going to increase.

"Transport links into the Forest are vital and so we have got to look at alternatives to the A48.

"I've travelled a lot in Brittany and the Rance barrage seems like something we should be investigating for the Wye.

"I want to start a debate on another crossing of the Wye because we need to consider the options.

"The Rance is quite a small river but the barrage produces a lot of electricity. Given the tides on the Wye a barrage would produce even more power.

"If there were a road running across it, it would have the double benefit of producing power and reducing congestion on the A48."

Given the Wye's importance for salmon and other wildlife and activities such as boating, the idea of a barrage could prove controversial.

In Brittany the barrage has caused changes to the environment with some fish species declining in numbers while others have returned to the area.

The future of the A48 has been an issue which has concerned Chepstow town council which set up a working party to open discussions with the relatively high number of public bodies that have an interest.

They include Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire county councils, the Welsh Government, the Highways Agency and Welsh Water.

Cllr Peter Farley, who chairs the working group, said there would be another meeting this month to discuss the pollution on Hardwick Hill.

He added: "I think at some point we shall have to return to some old ideas to reduce the traffic on the A48."