VULNERABLE people in Caldicot will be put at risk if plans to close a nearby hospital ward are given the green light, a meeting has heard.

Caldicot Town Council are the latest group to oppose the potential closure of the St Pierre dementia unit at Chepstow Community Hospital, part of a Gwent-wide overhaul of adult health services.

If approved, patients and their visitors would have to make use of relocated services at St Woolos Hospital in Newport, or Ysbyty Tri Chwm in Ebbw Vale.

At a meeting on Wednesday, Cllr Kay Harris said that Caldicot residents had been poorly consulted by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB).

“They (ABHUHB) need to realise that people in Caldicot feel so strongly about this,” she told councillors.

“It is just not possible for some local people in the area to visit people at St Woolos. Our bus service is not good enough and if you drive, there’s no parking there.”

Issues of transport were also seized on by Cllr Rachel Garrick, who described the local system as “absolutely appalling” for those living rurally.

The meeting also heard that some in the town were unaware that Chepstow hospital had a minor injuries unit before it closed six years ago.

Cllr Frank Rowberry asked: “We had a first class burns unit there – that’s gone. The minor injuries unit is gone and now the dementia ward could go too. What is going next, and why?”

Cllr Sharon Tovey added: “This could be a huge change of service. People need to be very much aware of that as these are vulnerable people.”

The council will write to ABUHB calling for a public meeting in Caldicot like the one held at Bulwark Community Centre in Chepstow on November 14.

Up to 60 people were said to have attended the public meeting, which came days after Monmouthshire county councillors put their own questions to ABUHB representatives.

Caldicot’s Cllr Tony Easson, along with Cllr Paul Pavia of Chepstow, led calls for those at County Hall to fight the proposed unit closure in a moved motion delivered on November 9.

A spokeswoman for ABUHB said: “During the last two weeks we have held a number of public events across the Gwent area and have engaged with a number of local people. However we are happy to arrange an additional meeting in Caldicot to ensure all residents have the opportunity to share their views with us.

“We would like to encourage those interested to come along to one of these meetings or to send their comments to us. The consultation document is available on our website. We will publicise the event as soon as we are able to confirm a date and venue.”