Member of the Senedd for Monmouth, Peter Fox, has written to Network Rail to push forward accessibility improvements at Chepstow Train Station.

Last summer, the Monmouth MS, in collaboration with Cllrs Paul Pavia and Christopher Edwards, raised awareness and concerns about a lack of accessibility and the need for urgent improvements to be made at the station.

Following correspondence and online meetings between Mr Fox and Transport for Wales, the Monmouth MS, Cllrs Pavia and Edwards & TfW met recently at Chepstow Station to discuss the issue first hand.

During the visit, they heard how a wheelchair user who arrived at the station from Newport, would need to travel all the way to Gloucester, alight, and catch a returning service, before being able to head in the right direction, adding almost an hour to their journey due to restrictions at the station, something which Mr Fox labelled as “completely ridiculous”.

All parties were informed that funding for any improvements at the station would be at the behest of Network Rail and UK Government, but an interim solution could be to utilise a Network Rail service yard to the east of the station, which has an inclined road leading up to the westbound platform, that could be adapted for accessible use.

Mr Fox, Cllr Pavia and Cllr Edwards all agreed this was a very good suggestion, with the Monmouth MS confirming that he would write to Network Rail to ask if this would be feasible, and for a costing of such a project, in order to get the ball rolling.

Local MS for Monmouth, Peter Fox, has said: “I want to pay tribute to the work by Cllr Paul Pavia and Cllr Christopher Edwards for the work they have done in bringing this to people’s attention.

“I will be writing to Network Rail to put forward the case.”