THE planning inspector who gave the go-ahead for 110 new homes at Sedbury 'ignored' the potential effect across the border in Chepstow, it has been claimed.

Cllr Peter Farley (Lab, St Mary's), a Chepstow town and Monmouthshire county councillor, said Welsh councils were 'being dumped on'.

Housebuilder Barrett went to appeal after the Forest of Dean District Council refused permission for the homes next to Wyedean School on Beachley Road.

Cllr Farley told Chepstow town council's planning he was concerned about extra traffic on the A48 through the town from the Sedbury estate and added pressure on facilities such as surgeries.

Councillors agreed to approach Monmouth MP David Davies to take up the issue of the impact on Chepstow of decisions made in Gloucestershire.

He said: "Issues such as increased traffic and air quality that will have an impact on Chepstow have been ignored.

"Once again we are being impacted on by decisions over which we have no contol.

"England is dumping on Welsh authorities."

Appeal inspector Mike Fox concluded that concerns over congestion were not sufficient to refuse permission.

He also rejected Monmouthshire County Council's concerns about air quality on the A48 at Bulwark Corner which does not meet European standards.

Mr Fox said an air quality study carried out for Barrett at the Beachley Road site had found fumes to be 'negligible'.

The company had also claimed most traffic would only travel as far as the railway station, Tesco and the town centre and so would not affect Bulwark Corner.

The inspector also said the 'travel plan' agreed with Gloucestershire County Council sought to reduce reliance on cars and improving engine technology would also help reduce emissions.

Cllr Farley said: "We have a real problem with air quality at Bulwark Corner and I believe these new houses will be attractive to people commuting to Bristol and Cardiff and it will have an impact on air quality.

"It is not right that the impact on neighbouring areas can be ignored and we need to think in terms of 'greater Chepstow' because many of the services and facilities used by people on the English side of the border are provided in Chepstow."