Welsh Conservatives table Chepstow bypass debate
Emily Price
The Welsh Conservatives will bring forward a Senedd motion this week calling for the Welsh Government to deliver a Chepstow bypass.
Campaigners have been fighting for a bypass for several years to alleviate traffic on the A48 and improve air quality.
Earlier this year, Gloucestershire County Council announced it would put half of its £1m major infrastructure budget towards exploring such a scheme.
Monmouthshire County Council have also agreed to support the joint study to identify possible solutions for Chepstow.
They asked the UK Government for consent to include the proposed study within the scope of their allocated Levelling Up Funding announced in the Chancellor’s autumn statement.
The Welsh Tories say the Welsh Government continue to “stay quiet” on the plans despite the benefits the long awaited bypass will bring.
In the Senedd on Wednesday (June 19), the Conservatives will bring forward a debate calling on the Welsh Government to work with the UK Government, Monmouthshire County Council and Gloucestershire County Council to deliver a Chepstow bypass.
The Welsh Government says the UK Government has not made any formal announcement confirming funding to develop a bypass.
The motion reads:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises the benefits of bypasses in supporting local economies and easing congestion.
2. Welcomes the UK Government’s commitment to provide funding to Monmouthshire County Council to develop plans for a Chepstow bypass.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to work with the UK Government, Monmouthshire County Council and Gloucestershire County Council to deliver a Chepstow bypass.
Congestion
Shadow Minister for Transport, Natasha Asghar MS, said: “Bypasses play a crucial role in supporting local economies and easing congestion. It is deeply regretful that we still don’t have a bypass in Chepstow.
“In the Senedd this week, I look forward to bringing forward our Welsh Conservative debate calling on the Welsh Government to take action in delivering a Chepstow bypass.”
Also commenting, Monmouth MS Peter Fox, said: “Chepstow desperately needs a bypass, and I welcome the UK Government’s commitment to provide funding to Monmouthshire County Council to develop plans for a Chepstow bypass.
“I hope Labour MSs vote for our motion, which will be a big step in delivering a bypass for Chepstow.”
A Welsh Government spokespersons said: “We are working with Monmouthshire Council and other partners, including Gloucestershire County Council, to tackle traffic congestion in and around Chepstow.
“We are not aware of any formal UK Government announcement confirming funding to develop a bypass.”
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The Welsh government spokesperson says that they are not aware of any UK government funding towards a Chepstow bypass. There is no such thing as a WELSH Conservative. I don’t dispute that Mon/Glos councils are in discussions nor that Chepstow does need a bypass. However, it seems that without going too far with their usual wording, that the Tories in Wales (not Welsh Conservatives) are implying once again that that our government has a ban on road building ignoring yet again the Porthmadog, Caernarfon a Drenewydd bypasses which, I’m fairly sure, involved no UK government funding but don’t let that… Read more »
Ignoring that the old Wye Bridge and town centre was bypassed in 1988 and that on the Gloucestershire side there are height limits on low railway bridges at Newnham, so any bypass is not especially good for HGVs. What possible route is available that does not involve demolishing large parts of the town, assuming a southerly route to the M4 junction through a large part of the Bulwark estates and then bridging a railway and a tidal river or that the cause of a large part of the traffic is commuting to Bristol. Or could the real cause of this… Read more »