Within a matter of years, get a tourism boost with the provision of a new 60 bed hotel, The Beacon can reveal.

A site alongside the dual carriageway, off the portal road, is being considered for the hotel development.

Internationally known concern, Alder King, have been commissioned by Monmouthshire County Council to sell the 2.55 acres site.

In addition to the hotel, there are also plans for a five vehicle coach park on adjoining land.

The details reveal that, in addition to an hotel, a business use could be allowed by planners.

The authority said "The Council is seeking to deliver a high quality development scheme, which acknowledges the prominence and profile of the site, a key gateway to and from the town".

In a statement issued by its chairman, Mr David Cummings, the Monmouth and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce said it very much welcomed the exciting news that the Monmouthshire County Council owned Portal Road site, behind the Total garage, had been put on the market with the primary use suggested as a hotel.

The statement said: "Readers will be aware that MDCTC has actively lobbied over the last three years for this strategic site for the town to be used for a hotel development with a section of the site devoted to much needed coach parking.

According to the latest available data from Monmouthshire County Council, Monmouth has 93 serviced accommodation (hotel or B+B) beds short of the Chepstow area and 383 short of the Abergavenny area. Information from several accommodation providers indicate that bookings are up this year 50% on 2007 and bookings through the Tourist Information Centre are up 100%.

"Each serviced accommodation bed in Monmouthshire produces a massive £17,605 benefit per year for the local economy and MDCTC cannot envisage a more important way to boost the economy of the town.

"The County Council has also deemed that the site might also be suitable for office development. MDCTC does not support the use of this vitally important site for the town as offices as a new Chamber survey suggests that 16,000 sq ft of office space already exists in and around the town, with a doubling of this capacity planned on existing sites over the next few years. For the full exclusive story see The Monmouthshire Beacon issue dated November 19th.