Welsh Assembly Government Accused of "Closing Down Chepstow" A48 road works "killing trade"

12.00.00am GMT Thu 20th Nov 2008

The Welsh Assembly Government was accused this morning of "killing trade" and "threatening the survival of small businesses" in Chepstow due to road works on a key stretch of a trunk road through the town which has left Chepstow in a virtual state of gridlock.

Work started on rebuilding a wall after a road traffic collision on Hardwick Hill two days ago. Having set up traffic lights on the trunk road, a vital artery through Chepstow, and a key gateway into Wales and access to the Severn Bridge, has resulted in long tailbacks through the historic border town.

Jacqui Sullivan, a Monmouthshire County Councillor in Chepstow whose ward covers the town centre and a local trader and businesswoman said, "The phone has not stopped ringing with local traders, businesses and residents fed up. The town has been brought to a standstill. This is now becoming a regular occurrence."

She added, "This is killing trade this week. Businesses are struggling in the current economic climate and traders are reporting a down turn in trade. The Town Centre is quiet, except for the long queues of traffic winding their way through the town.

Mrs. Sullivan said that she hadn't stopped speaking all week to council officers to get the Welsh Assembly Government's trunk road agency to lift the traffic lights and do the repairs in the evenings. "Recently the A48 was completely resurfaced through the town at night. There was no disruption. This was done because the Assembly Government, who looks after this trunk road, know that just one broken down car or a set of traffic lights on the road will effectively bring Chepstow to a halt."

Enlisting the help of local Assembly Member, Michael German, she said that pressure was being brought on the South East Wales Trunk Road Agency (SEWTRA) to do the work at night.

Speaking from the Senedd at Cardiff Bay, Mr. German, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, confirmed that he had this morning been in contact with the Welsh Minster for Transport to stop the work being done during the day: "I have received a reply to see what can be done. However, I want to works stopped and moved to the night. The Welsh Assembly Government has effectively put up a sign saying that 'Chepstow: closed for business'."

The history of the A48 through Chepstow is no stranger to hold-ups and the town has suffered an increasing amount of disruption and gridlock over the last ten years. The trunk road, maintained by the Assembly Government, carries about 12,000 vehicle movements a day. "It's a vital link that travels through the centre of Chepstow, where long distance and local traffic meet and mix. Any disruption leads to massive problems and tailbacks", said Chepstow County Councillor Phil Hobson.

Long a campaigner for a future Chepstow by-pass, Mr. Hobson said: "This is not he first time that an agency of the Assembly Government has closed the town. We had a similar episode in 2006 where the town was put into gridlock for several days. No lessons have been learned."