CHEPSTOW Town Council is considering plans to reintroduce a traffic warden service to tackle illegal parking problems.

In the meeting last Wednesday (22nd October), the members heard of a request from a resident to potentially reintroduce traffic wardens since parking was considered to be a considerable problem within the town.

Several members agreed with the facts laid out in the correspondence, stating that the problem was one affecting many of Chepstow's wards.

The points raised included vehicles stopping on the High Street and illegal use of disabled spaces on Bank Street along with parking on the pavement on the same road.

The issue of vans and shop owners parking for long periods on St Marys Street was also raised but it was stressed in the letter to the council that these were merely the main problem areas.

The resident said that they spend a lot of time walking through Chepstow and have noticed a severe increase in the amount of illegal parking about the town centre.

Not only is this issue an inconvenience for other road users and pedestrians, but it was also pointed out that there were serious safety implications too.

The letter to the Town Council said: "I have personally witnessed a number of near accidents due to pedestrians having to take evasive action from either dangerous driving or illegal parking.

"Not long ago the town centre parking was enforced by a traffic warden and as a result illegal parking was negligable. So tax payers money well spent I would say."

The resolution from the discussion came in two parts. First was that members of the council should notify the Clerk of particular parking problems within their respective wards.

The second decision was that the Clerk would arrange a meeting with local police, Monmouthshire County Council Highways Officers and Council Members in order that the parking concerns might be addressed.