WORKING furiously behind the scenes in Chepstow, the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism is committed to protecting and improving this ancient and unique town.

This voluntary group strives to promote business and the local economy. The Chamber represents a wide range of sectors including service, retail, tourism and hospitality, and seeks to ensure the voices of local businesses are heard. With more than 50 members, it works as a united front as a force for change in the face of continued pressures on small towns and high streets.

Over the past year, the Chamber has run a campaign to clean up the town, working with Monmouthshire County Council to repaint faded road markings and map cases and to replace faded road signs. Other projects discussed to improve Chepstow have included litter picking, painting of benches, helping to gain permission for Tesco to paint town underpasses, and Chepstow Racecourse’s grounds maintenance staff to work on tidying shrubs and borders.

The Chamber also represents its businesses in the face of fierce competition from online shopping, as well as large shopping centres. Empty premises in town are monitored and support is given to businesses looking for a space to trade.

As well as local level support, the Chamber seeks to improve tourist footfall in town through publicity, as well as initiatives such as the creation of a user-friendly town map, coach parking opportunities and deep-cleaning for the town. They are also advocating new signage to better promote the wonderful walks in the area, such as the start/ end of the Wales Coastal path.

2017 saw Chepstow Chamber of Commerce & Tourism turn 70, after it was founded by the family behind the 140-year-old Herbert Lewis store. It is with great sadness that a year on, the town prepares to say goodbye to the store ahead of its closure.

Chamber Secretary, Sue Kingdom, said: “We’d like to thank Roger Hoggins, Head of Operations at MCC for the support provided by himself and his staff over the last year. Chepstow needs to be interesting and attractive for residents and visitors if high street shopping is to be sustainable. The closure of Herbert Lewis is a further illustration of how difficult current trading conditions are. We would like to express our gratitude to the owners and family behind Herbert Lewis for their commitment to Chepstow for 140 years and especially with the formation of the Chamber. They will be very sadly missed.”