IMPROVEMENTS to rail and bus services could be a step closer in Chepstow as a part of Cardiff’s Metro proposals.

The scheme to improve the Chepstow rail station and bus station interchange is included in the new Welsh Government (WG) Local Transport Plan. It is expected that the scheme will be taken forward as part of the WG’s Metro project, designed to link surrounding towns and cities to Cardiff city centre.

Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) have sent letters to WG’s Cardiff Capital Region Board and Metro Team to progress the scheme in January 2016, though this is still a preliminary estimation. It is suggested that work on the Chepstow interchange may not take place until after 2020.

While the plans continue to bring Chepstow into the Metro network, Monmouth was dropped as one of the locations last year, with Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay expressing deep concern that the town was no longer part of the proposed South East Wales Metro network.

The map published by the Welsh Government shows the Metro extending along existing rail links to Abergavenny and Chepstow but previously outlined Metro links to the county town itself have vanished.

At the time, Mr Ramsay said: “It is deeply concerning that Monmouth seems to have been dropped from the Welsh Government’s latest map of the Metro.

“The A449 is a vital north to south strategic route and tailor-made for inclusion in the emerging public transport strategy, which includes improved rail, light rail, tram and bus links. It makes no sense to exclude the A449 or the A40 from the Metro proposals.

“Too often the town of Monmouth feels ignored by the Welsh Government when it comes to public transport upgrades. The town has battled with declining public transport links over the years since the town lost all its links to the railway network in the late 1950s.

“Clearly reconnecting Monmouth to the railway network would be very costly and is not on the current agenda but being on the Metro map is vital to ensure enhanced bus services and future improvements in public transport.

“As the county town Monmouth should definitely be on the map and I am pressing the Welsh Government to put it back on the map at the earliest opportunity.”