Latest news with #MonmouthshireCountyCouncil
South Wales Argus
4 hours ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Monmouthshire County Council 'key decisions' not published
Monmouthshire County Council agreed a change to its constitution in April that 'key decisions' made by council officers be published on the authority's website. The intention is doing so would allow councillors outside of the Labour-led cabinet to call them in for review if necessary. But Conservative member for Shirenewton, Cllr Louise Brown, questioned if that has happened. She told the full council's July meeting: 'I haven't seen any key decisions published. There must be some?'. She asked how the council will ensure the decisions are published and Labour cabinet member Councillor Angela Sandles said the decisions have to be published on the council website within two days of them being taken and they can't be implemented for five days to allow them to be called in. But the Magor East and Undy councillor said she didn't know the answer as to why seemingly no decisions have been published and said she would get back to Cllr Brown. Cllr Sandles, also in response to Cllr Brown, confirmed the council is working to 'improve' its forward planner. There has been repeated criticism over some decisions not being included on the planner and Cllr Sandles said the intention is to mark which have already been listed to go before a scrutiny committee so councillors and committee chairs can also see which others they may want to discuss.
South Wales Argus
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- South Wales Argus
Usk Road, Monmouthshire, closed for resurfacing work
A section of the R121 Usk Road to Buckwell Road, Pen-y-Cae-Mawr, was due to be shut for necessary works to be safely carried out. Monmouthshire County Council issued the closure order under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. The order came into effect on July 24 and will remain in force for up to 18 months, or until the work is completed. The work is expected to be completed over two days, however, between July 24 and 25, operating from 9am to 4pm each day. Access will be maintained for properties along the affected stretch of road during the closure period. A signed diversion route is in place, directing traffic via Buckwell Road, Old Road, and Usk Road. Monmouthshire County Council has stated that contravening the restrictions or prohibitions imposed under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 is an offence. The council has apologised for any inconvenience caused and said the work is being carried out as swiftly as possible. The temporary closure has been put in place to ensure the safety of both workers and the public while the resurfacing work is being completed. The council has also said that while the closure is in place, it will aim to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum. The council has advised residents and road users to plan their journeys accordingly and to follow the signed diversion route. For more information on this closure and for updates, visit Monmouthshire County Council's website.
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- Automotive
- South Wales Argus
Date announced for Chepstow High St double yellow lines
Parking is already prohibited on Chepstow High Street but the restriction is seen as widely ignored leading to the deputy leader of Monmouthshire County Council branding the town as 'like the wild west'. Monmouthshire County Council, in September last year, suggested painting double yellow lines on the High Street which it hoped would make clear to drivers they cannot park on the road. Yellow restriction signs, stating no parking is allowed, are currently used rather than yellow lines as painting them was seen as potentially damaging 'the aesthetics' of the historic market town. The county council suggested putting aside concerns about the visual impact of double yellow lines as it said illegal parking was increasing and Chepstow Town Council, in September 2024, agreed it would support the move. Catrin Maby, the county council's Labour cabinet member responsible for highways, said the yellow lines will be laid this autumn when resurfacing work takes place on High Street. She said the council will have to publish a new traffic regulation order for the double yellow lines to be laid in October or November. That will also mean the council will have to publish an order stating its intention to revoke the current regulation prohibiting parking and to remove the signs. The Labour councillor for Drybridge told councillors: 'Apparently it is quite complicated and you can't have signs saying 'no parking' and double yellow lines at the same time, as I understand it you have to revoke one traffic order to introduce the other one, don't ask me to justify that. That's what's been explained to me. 'It's all happening this autumn but I can't give a more precise date than that.' Cllr Maby said the council has also started recruiting addition civil enforcement officers as she said drivers ignoring no parking zones 'is such an issue across the county.' Conservative member for Chepstow's Mount Pleasant ward, Cllr Paul Pavia, who had asked for an update on resurfacing of High Street and the traffic regulation order, at July's full council meeting, said: 'That is really good news, thank you.' In January, responding to Cllr Pavia, deputy leader and Chepstow Castle and Larkfied member Paul Griffiths, said the council wanted to 'complement' the existing signs with double yellow lines and described illegal parking as 'a major issue of frustration'. He said: 'Chepstow residents tell me they feel they are living in the sort of lawless conditions you would have found in the American wild west. 'Motorists appear to be parking where they want, how they want without apparent restriction.'
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- Automotive
- South Wales Argus
Road to close for works to be carried out near Usk
Monmouthshire County Council has announced the temporary closure of a section of the R102 from Oak Ridge to Llanbadoc. The closure is to allow for poling works to be conducted safely by MJ Quinn. The works are scheduled for Monday, August 4, from 8am to 5pm, and the closure is expected to last only for this day. However, the council has stated that the order will remain in force for a maximum of 18 months, or until the completion of the works, whichever comes first. The affected stretch of road, approximately 310 metres, extends from its junction with the R106 Road from Dowlais Brook to Woodside Trading Estate. The council has assured that reasonable access will be maintained for properties on the affected road during the closure. A diversion route has been set up and will be clearly signposted. The diversion route will take drivers along the R106 Road from Dowlais Brook to Woodside Trading Estate, R106 from Cwrt Bleddyn Hotel to Dowlais Brook, and Parc Road to Oak Ridge, and vice versa. Motorists are advised to follow the signed diversionary route and allow extra time for their journeys. Monmouthshire County Council has reminded road users that breaching a restriction under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 is an offence. The council has expressed its appreciation for the public's patience and cooperation during this essential work. For any further updates or information, residents are advised to contact Monmouthshire County Council directly. The works are part of the council's ongoing commitment to maintaining and improving the road network in the area. For further updates, visit the Monmouthshire County Council website.
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Monmouthshire council putting £1.4m towards Chepstow station
However members of Monmouthshire County Council again raised their displeasure there is no plan to improve disabled access at Chepstow railway station where passengers unable to reach the westbound platform have to cross the border into England to make trips further into Wales. Chepstow Mount Pleasant councillor Paul Pavia said: 'Step free access isn't an option it is mandatory. Passengers have to travel to Lydney or Gloucester first to come back to travel west.' The Conservative criticised Network Rail, which is responsible for tracks and other infrastructure on the railways, for failing to put in place access improvements at Chepstow and the Equality and Human Rights Commission which he said has been 'slow' to ensure the railways are meeting disability discrimination legislation. Monmouthshire County Council was asked to make up to £1.4m available from its funds for the scheme intended to provide parking and turning areas for buses at the station, additional car parking spaces and improve the station with the addition of public toilets and possibly a wating room. Council deputy leader Paul Griffiths said an access bridge is 'very much needed' but said Network Rail hasn't been able to meet the timetable the council has to spend the £5m awarded by the UK Government but the authority would continue to lobby it to invest in a bridge. Cllr Pavia suggested access could be created to the westbound platform across land already in Network Rail's ownership and Cllr Griffiths said he would make Network Rail aware of all comments on access made by councillors. The original plan, developed by the previous Conservative council administration, was to only provide a bus parking and turning area, at the front of the station, as well as other traffic improvements in the town but that was rejected by the then UK Government. However in its autumn statement in November 2023 it made a surprise announcement it would provide £5m for the bus turning area and the Labour councillor said since then it has managed to persuade the government to allow it to extend the period it has to spend the money and make the other changes at the station. Cllr Griffiths said there was also concern at the loss of parking spaces for the original bus turning area. He also suggested the existing C1 Bus, that goes from Chepstow Hospital to the Bulwark and the Tesco store, would be able to call at the railway station while buses serving Tintern could also make use of it, improving services for tourists.
