COMPLAINTS Monmouth is being treated as a “second class border town” by the Welsh Government have been raised by the town’s business community.

David Cummings, chairman of Monmouth and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce said it was “unacceptable” that permanent signs advertising the town on the side of the A40 have not been erected after the previous sign was knocked down by a lorry in 2015.

The former five metre-high sign for ‘Monmouth’ 200 metres north of the Beech Road exit has only been replaced with temporary signage erected by Monmouthshire County Council, despite assurances from the Welsh Government that there were plans to replace the signs.

In April Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport Ken Skates AM said the Welsh Government had plans to replace the signs but gave no timetable.

“The Welsh Government continues to treat us as a second class border town and to be obsessed with promotion of the Cardiff Capital City Region deal, which has no discernible benefits for our town,” said Mr Cummings.

20,000 vehicles move south on the A40 each day but signage problems mean that any ‘impulse trade’ may pass the town by.

Southbound after the traffic lights, a tree now completely obscures the five metre high sign giving notification of the Beech Road turn off for Monmouth until you are alongside it and then a bush obscures the Monmouth information.

There are now concerns that drivers’ attention is more likely to be grabbed by a sign advertising ‘Monmouth Services’, even though these are better described as Raglan services.

“We have data suggesting that as soon as the services at Raglan were opened we lost footfall,” said Mr Cummings. “I would suggest that motorists, not familiar with the area, think they have not reached Monmouth, when they see the services sign, but believe they still have six miles to travel.

“The Welsh Government should not allow misleading signs to be erected on the trunk road network. Monmouth offers far more in the way of services than Raglan services does. The brown sign just before the tunnels heading north shows what facilities Monmouth can offer. Why is there not something similar after Dixton roundabout heading south on the A40?”

The concerns have prompted Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay to write again to Mr Skates, expressing the deep concern of Monmouth’s business community over the Government’s continued failure to maintain signage on the A40 past Monmouth.

”This is totally unacceptable,” said Mr Ramsay. “As Mr Cummings points out, Monmouth traders rely on impulse trade from 20,000 vehicles moving south on the A40 each day but two factors are working against them – a tree completely obscures a five metre high sign for the Beech Road turn off for Monmouth until motorists are completely alongside it and then a bush obscures information about the town.

“It is clear that Monmouth business people feel they have been badly let down by the Welsh Government’s failure to address these issues. I hope Mr Skates will take on board these comments and that progress can be made as soon as possible.”