A heated clash between Labour and Conservative councillors over Magor station ended in the chair calling for a 10 minute cool-down period.

A motion was put to Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) by Cllr Jane Pratt which called upon the Welsh Government to accelerate the provision of a railway station at Magor; to link up the M48 with a new junction to service Severn Tunnel Junction; and make public transport links for hubs, trains, cyclists and cars at railway stations a priority.The motion also said: "Time has passed and our response to the climate emergency needs to see a greater sense of urgency and more progress from Welsh Government if we are to get people out of their cars and onto public transport."Cllr Pratt said: "We’ve seen very little action and this is really of great concern to us. We really need to get the infrastructure in place if we’re going to help our residents use public transport, use active travel and make sustainable choices."Leader of the Labour group on MCC Dimitri Batrouni proposed an amendment which was voted down.He said: "I found Cllr Pratt’s remarks offensive and generally miserable and an unfair categorisation of what’s happening. I’m really glad to hear Richard John say he’ll work with the Welsh Government which would be a first."He agreed with the need to accelerate the Magor station, but questioned Cllr Pratt’s ability to understand ’hard decisions’ and Cllr John’s willingness to make them. Cllr Pratt defended her ability to understand her portfolio. Cllr Batrouni was asked not to speak over other councillors by chair Cllr Mat Feakins.Other Labour councillors made a series of defensive statements which also included personal attacks at Conservative councillors as well as a personal attack at the chair.Jo Watkins speaking in support of the motion commented that she has been quite upset by the tone the meeting at taken at points, to which Cllr Feakins agreed.Once voting had finished and the motion was carried, Cllr Feakins called a 10 minute recess for councillors to calm town from the heated discussion.