THE ASSEMBLY member for Monmouth has spoken of his frustration over the Welsh Government’s attitude to traffic problems and pollution in Chepstow.

Nick Ramsay has been pressing the Welsh Government to approve a bypass around Chepstow – an issue he says is becoming increasingly urgent given the removal of the Severn Bridge tolls at the end of 2018.

He submitted two written questions to the Senedd over the Welsh Government’s progress in working with the UK Government to build a Chepstow bypass, and how it was preparing for increased traffic congestion and pollution after the bridge tolls were removed, as a result of his concerns.

The Welsh Government responded by saying they wouldn’t be able to fully understand the implications on Chepstow until after the tolls had been removed - a response Mr Ramsay said had done little to alleviate his fears.

“Traffic congestion is a severe problem on a daily basis in Chepstow now and once the tolls are removed, this is only going to get worse,” he said.

“Work needs to begin now to meet the needs of a growing town and the wider community.”

In response, Ken Skates, the Welsh Government cabinet secretary for economy and transport, said: “My officials are working with Monmouthshire County Council on a WelTAG Stage One Assessment of options to improve the flow of traffic along the A48(T) through Chepstow.

“This is a key cross-border route and stakeholders including Gloucestershire County Council as the A48 highway authority, Forest of Dean District Council as planning authority, and Chepstow Town Council are all involved in discussions.

“Officials are currently working with Highways England to model the effects of the toll removal, however, until they are removed we won’t understand the change in the flow.”

Chepstow’s roads have been plagued by congestion problems in recent weeks, with long queues of traffic on the A48 because of a technical fault with a set of traffic lights and any future problems in the town will be made worse due to increased in traffic.

Removing the tolls will bring many benefits and investment to the region, but residents in the towns nearest the bridge will be aware an influx of people and traffic will put more pressure on infrastructure which is already in need of relief – campaigners have been calling for a Chepstow bypass for decades.

A spokesman for Monmouthshire County Council said the authority was preparing to meet a host of challenges, as well as new opportunities, after the bridge tolls disappear.

A statement said: “At first glance the removal of tolls would seem to be a good thing, but the effect of the removal of the tolls is only part of a wide range of issues affecting cross border traffic at present – congestion, property prices, work, public transport, etc., which all contribute to the volume of traffic over the Severn crossings. Local authorities and agencies both sides of the border have commissioned a study of how traffic problems in Chepstow might be alleviated but probably more importantly, how cross border travel – public and private – might be improved in the future.”