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Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Council 'not told' about new bridge weight limit
A council says it was not given any prior notice about a new weight limit which has been introduced on a major crossing between Wales and England. Weight restrictions for heavy-goods vehicles will apply on the M48 Severn crossing from next month, in a bid to future-proof the 60-year-old suspension bridge. But Monmouthshire council's chief executive said the authority was not warned of the rule change, which will see only heavy-goods vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes able to use the route between Chepstow and Aust, Bristol, from 27 May. Councillors now want to meet the UK's transport secretary to discuss their concerns. National Highways - which manages major roads in England - said it contacted stakeholders as soon as possible. Paul Matthews, the chief executive of Monmouthshire County Council, complained on social media that to be notified of the decision, which was "quite a big deal" for the county, "would have been nice". Weight restrictions introduced on major crossing M4 Severn bridge roadworks to go on until summer M5 flooded and Severn Bridge closed in bad weather The new rules mean about 10% of the 32,000 vehicles that cross at Chepstow every day will soon need to use the second Severn crossing, the Prince of Wales bridge, to travel between Wales and England. National Highways said the weight restriction would need to remain in place for an about 12 to 18 months as it developed and installed a medium-term solution, but added the crossing would remain open to all emergency vehicles, scheduled buses, coaches, gritters and recovery vehicles. The announcement has caused anger among local representatives, coming shortly after a series of lane closures and restrictions in 2022 and 2023 for an assessment of the main cables which were exposed to harsh winter conditions. Concerns have also been raised over business struggles and traffic pollution levels resulting from the change. Armand Watts, who represents the Bulwark and Thornwell area - which is beside the bridge in Chepstow - said the decision had been made without consultation. "I want to know why National Highways are carrying out a consultation after the decision? That's not consultation, that's a sham to do consultation retrospectively." The Labour councillor said he was concerned at the impact on businesses, especially those based at the Newhouse Farm Industrial Estate where supermarket Asda has a distribution centre, and the service station on the English side of the bridge at Aust, as well as the longer term economic impact for Monmouthshire. "Monmouthshire County Council has a plan to create so many jobs but if businesses in Chepstow can't get HGVs on to the bridge what will it mean longer term? Will they look to Magor or over to Avonmouth?" He also said he was concerned traffic heading north, or travelling south into Wales, would use the A48, adding to congestion and traffic pollution in Chepstow. "I'm trying to arrange a meeting with Heidi Alexander [UK government transport minister]," he said. Conservative councillor Lisa Dymock, whose Portskewett ward includes the Severn Bridge Industrial estate which houses about 40 businesses, said she was concerned about increased costs for smaller haulage firms and manufacturers and the possibility of 95-mile detour, up the M50 via Gloucester, for hauliers if an accident closed the M4 bridge. She said: "This announcement has come at a difficult time when the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge is routinely subject to significant delays due to resurfacing works, which are due to continue until at least August." Richard John, leader of the Conservative opposition group on Monmouthshire council, called for a "clear timeline" for inspections and repairs and added: "We need to see swift intervention from the UK government to secure the long-term future of the bridge so it can continue to safely accommodate the demands of businesses and residents." National Highways said local authorities were informed on Thursday, one day before the official announcement, and it had made efforts to contact stakeholders as quickly as possible via email, phone calls and briefings. Chris Pope, programme delivery manager, added: "Safety is our number one priority, and this weight restriction is about future-proofing the bridge for years to come. "As with all our structures, we will continue to monitor the bridge and ensure it remains safe for users." Bridging the Gap: How the Severn Bridge Was Built The Severn Bridge at 50: A High Wire Act
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fear schoolchildren's dinner money could be lost after payment service withdrawn
THE withdrawal of a money transfer and payment system from an app used by schools could leave Chepstow parents out of pocket. The sQuid digital payment service was withdrawn from the ReachMoreParents app last week but refunds appear to only be available to those with more than £10 in their accounts. Chepstow Comprehensive School sent a letter to parents earlier in March warning the service was being 'unexpectedly' withdrawn from the app from 4pm on Friday, March 14 and advising them how to request a refund of money in their accounts. But Councillor Armand Watts said he is aware of one parent who's requested refund was rejected as the balance in her account was £7.27. A message in the accounts section of the website stated: 'You are unable to withdraw funds as your balance of £7.27 is lower than our minimum refund amount of £10.' Cllr Watts, who represents Bulwark and Thornwell in Chepstow, said he feared many parents will have had less than the minimum amount and he intends lodging a complaint with the financial regulator and raising the issue with Monmouthshire County Council. The Labour councillor said: 'It's obvious to many teachers, care workers and public representatives that there are a growing amount of families across Chepstow who are already facing considerable financial pressure. 'Therefore, it's very likely that many parents have less than £10 in their school dinner account because they're living week by week, month by month on very tight budgets. 'Whilst I will be having conversations with Monmouthshire's legal advisers my immediate intention is to register a formal complaint with the Financial Ombudsman regarding sQuid's obstruction to refund Monmouthshire school children's dinner money.' READ MORE: laim parents can't afford bus fares rejected In a letter to parents Chepstow headteacher Kelly Waythe said the decision sQuid would no longer be available was made at 'very short notice' by the school's provider She apologised and said the school was working with the firm that manages its 'cashless catering system' to transition to its 'iPay payment provider'. The letter said parents should 'rest assured sQuid payments will remain accessible for you to request a refund of any monies remaining in your child/ren's catering purse' until April 14, with parents advised to make claims 'as soon as possible' after March 14. John Gallacher, of sQuid, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: 'sQuid announced some time ago that it was making an orderly withdrawal from the UK market, as we will be focusing on international activities. 'Our refund process for parents is continuing as normal and in line with our published terms and conditions.' The company's squidcard website now displays a message it is no longer operating its UK education business and details on how parents can access their accounts. Its terms and conditions confirms any 'unused value' on an account can be redeemed at any time 'provided: the balance on your sQuid account is at least £10, after any relevant charges.' Monmouthshire County Council and Chepstow School were contacted for comment. Newport City Council and Torfaen Borough Council said they weren't aware of any of their schools using sQuid while Caerphilly Borough Council said its catering service doesn't use the service but four secondary schools have their own independent arrangements, rather than the council's services, but it doesn't know what systems the four use.
