Sir,

Following yet another tragic fatality on the A466 between Bigsweir and Redbrook, I wish to add my voice to those calling for a reduction in the speed limit to 40mph for the entire Monmouth to Chepstow section.

The road is a scenic route used by cyclists and sightseers and by slow-moving agricultural vehicles, but it is also used by motorcyclists who treat it as a weekend racetrack and frequeuntly reach speeds of 80mph, and for people like me commuting to the M4.

Those wanting to drive fast become frustrated and take unnecessary risks overtaking on the handful of straight sections, which causes head-on collisions or vehicles to leave the road while taking evasive action.

The A466 is a major tourist resource for Monmouthshire and we should treat it as such, making it and the Wye Valley as peaceful, safe and pleasant as possible.

Dropping the speed limit to 40 mph will encourage commuters to take alternative routes, of which there are several, and most importantly, save lives.

It is astonishing to read that Gloucestershire County Council do not consider a 40mph limit practical, and I believe MCC take a similar view.

Practical for what, precisely? It would certainly be practical for preventing several deaths each year and boosting tourism and leisure.

It is only impractical for people like me who have left home 10 mintues too late, but I'm certainly happy to live with the mild inconvenience of a lower speed limit.

As a friend of mine used to say, better 10 minutes late in this world than 20 years early in the next.

Matthew Hall

(Whitebrook)