Named as the second worst gridlock hotspot by sat-nav provider, Tom-Tom, the A40 trunk road and Wye Bridge has been under scrutiny by two Monmouth councillors determined to ease the traffic problems there, highlighted during the recent roadworks when delays for Wyesham traffic into town became unbearable.

At Monday's Monmouth Town Council meeting (16th January), two county council officers, Paul Keeble and Colin Phillips, heard possible solutions to the problem, made worse over recent years by increased traffic from the relocated Grange School, Lidl, the sports complex and swimming pool, and large vehicles avoiding the tolls on the Severn Bridge.

With two new housing developments on the former infant school site and Tudor road area bringing further commuter traffic in the next few years, the problem to the communities of Wyesham and the Wye Valley are set to increase.

Cllr Nick Hacket Pain spoke of the 1960s road design simply not able to cope with modern traffic and had estimated he and his wife had travelled an extra 700 miles in the last five years just to get from Monmouth town to Wyesham. With the increased traffic on the national network compounding the problem, "it only required a small hiccup to create total chaos" he told the officers.

Paul Keeble, traffic network manager for Monmouthshire County Council was keen to stress that any changes to the area would need the backing of the Welsh Assembly, who were responsible for the A40, but was able to announce that they had been given the green light by the South East Wales Transport Alliance to go ahead with a consultation process on widening the Wye Bridge, which will happen after March.

The consultants would be given a brief to look into the prospect of providing a two lane highway over the bridge, by removing the pavement from the lower side and widening the walkway on the opposite side of the bridge.

Cllr Hacket Pain gave a cautious welcome to this proposal, saying that any remedial action was welcome, but felt this was not a long term solution to the capacity problem at the junction. Cllr Chris Munslow put forward some options for a new crossing. The first was a new river bridge linking Dixton roundabout with Hadnock Road, the second proposal was a roundabout at the junction of Beech Road and Cinderhill Street, bringing traffic across a new link to Wyesham; this proposal has the support of Assembly Member, Nick Ramsay. The town council voted in favour of accepting this second proposal.

•Colin Phillips, Regeneration Officer for Monmouthshire County Council has revealed that a new consultation process for the provision of a welcome centre at the old Monnow Bridge is being revisited with another attempt to get external funding through the Rural Development Plan.

Speaking to Monmouth Town Councillors at Monday's meeting (16th January), he said the feasability study would incorporate improved access to the gated bridge and complete repairs to the bridge following the damage done a few years ago when it was used by traffic.

Financial assistance would be given to premises in close proximity to the area in the form of three £30,000 grants to improve the frontage of their premises as some properties were "lacking appeal."

When questioned about an improvement plan for the slaughter houses under Priory Street, he admitted there was only so much money available for regenerational projects and although essential repairs are carried out, there are no internal funding options for improvement opportunities.

Regarding the proposal of resurfacing of Monnow Street and Agincourt Square in line with the Ben Hamilton-Bailey principle of de-regulating vehicles and pedestrians so each is more aware of the other, he said that this option would be revisited in the summer of 2012.