The worsening traffic congestion in Chepstow continues to be a major source of delay, economic disruption and driver frustration; together with the associated issues of hazards to health, road safety and environmental pollution causing the global climate emergency. The long-mooted (decades) Chepstow bypass - the seemingly favourite major and very costly political proposal related to a resolution of the problem, still awaits financial provision and final approval, and the prospects of its eventual completion remains problematic. Certainly, in the current adverse economic climate, radical changes in work social patterns, technological fuel innovations, state of political flux, and consideration of the Senedd, Westminster and MCC governmental reassessment of sustainable private and public transport policies. Critically, and primarily, it provides no remedy for the present ongoing need to urgently improve the traffic flow specifically at the crucial Highbeech roundabout access road junction bottleneck. A familiar party-political scenario of promising future big budget expenditure on supposed jam tomorrow, but sadly neglecting the vexatious dire traffic logjams existing today and in the immediate future!

Regrettably, the road infrastructure modifications which have previously been recently installed; for example, the questionable priority decision to resurface the roundabout tarmac, and the similar major upgrade change of the A466 / M48 Severn Bridge link road from Clearway to Red Route highway status, has alas in no way contributed to ameliorating the pressing congestion problem.

Alternative low-cost simple road access modifications providing modest but useful improvements in traffic flow, driver discipline and road safety, within the constraints of the existing road kerbside structures, are feasible. Namely, the white line dual lane signage demarcations which have been partially implemented on the A48 Westwards and the Fairview roads, but not – unaccountably and inconsistently, at the remaining busy access road junctions A48 Eastwards from Pwllmeyric and A466 from Monmouth. Oddly and inexplicably, the requisite white line dual lane demarcations were not implemented in accordance with the formal recommended usual roundabout design policy and practise initially.

Furthermore, previous and current future controversial plans for extensive housing developments on both sides of the river Wye border, have predictably exacerbated the traffic congestion situation.

In conclusion; practical, effective and economically realizable road improvements are the essential and immediate urgent imperative.

Peter Evans

Chepstow