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South Wales Argus
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- South Wales Argus
Concern at increase in lorries travelling through Caldicot
A weight restriction has been placed on the M48 crossing, between Wales and England, since the end of May to reduce the load on the cables supporting the 60-year-old suspension bridge. Since the restriction was announced Monmouthshire County Council and local councillors have highlighted the potential negative impact on the economy, including industrial estates around Chepstow intended to provide firms easy access to the bridge and motorway network. Concern have also been raised at increased traffic on the M4 with vehicles over 7.5 tonnes having to use the M4 Prince of Wales bridge and the knock on effect on Junction 23 at Magor as well as approach roads which have long been impacted by congestion on the motorway. National Highways, the UK Government agency responsible for both bridges, has said some 32,000 vehicles cross the Severn Bridge everyday with around 10 per cent, or 3,200, being HGVs which now have to cross the M4 bridge which is a 13 mile detour from Chepstow. Councillor Tony Easson, said he has been taken aback by an apparent increase in lorries travelling along the B4245 which, despite passing through residential areas and being only one lane each way with a 30 mile per hour limit, is known as the Caldicot by-pass. The Labour member for the town's Dewstow ward said his dashcam has captured 40 tonne lorries on the road. Screenshot of dashcam footage showing large lorries travelling in both directions along the B4245 through Caldicot. 'The lorries are using the B4245 to and from the M4 at Magor to Severn Bridge Industrial Estate,' said Cllr Easson who had been driving through the town at around 3.30pm on a Thursday earlier in August. 'It was quite congested and if that is the scene now the situation when the schools are back will be quite intolerable.' He suggested heavy good vehicles could take a slightly longer detour by heading further west to the Coldra, Junction 24 roundabout and then the M48 before using the county roads. A spokesman for Monmouthshire County Council said: 'The council is working closely with National Highways and Welsh Government trunk road agency to minimise the impact on local roads. We are actively monitoring the network, especially around Magor Junction and the B4245, and are reviewing the data. 'The National Highways official route for HGV vehicles accessing Chepstow and New House Farm is M4/Magor Junction/M48. Vehicles accessing Severn Bridge Industrial Estate would need to use the county network, either A48/B4245 or B4245.' When National Highways attended a Monmouthshire council meeting ahead of the weight limit coming into force its manager suggested support for resurfacing roads on the Welsh side of the bridge impacted by higher traffic volumes could be considered. At that meeting Chepstow Conservative councillor Paul Pavia said it was 'only fair' National Highways put money towards resurfacing the local road network that would come under greater strain from increased traffic. National Highways manager Ian Thompson replied 'We will take that forward for consideration' and added: 'I'm not promising any funding I'm not in a position to do that.' The weight limit is expected to be in place for 12 to 18 months while a temporary solution to manage large vehicles crossing the bridge is put in place.
South Wales Argus
21-04-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Monmouthshire council reviews its licensing policy
However they were told applications which come to a small sub-committee of councillors when objections have been made would still have to be decided in line with consideration of the four objectives of the 2003 licensing act which applies across Wales and England. Those objectives are the prevention of crime and disorder, prevention of public nuisance, public safety and protection of children from harm. Monmouthshire County Council has had to review its licensing policy ahead of it being updated, in line with legislation, every five years with the latest version to cover the period 2025 to 2030. The draft policy was presented to the council's licensing committee where Conservative member Alistair Neill questioned why promoting the local economy isn't also an objective and Labour's Tony Easson highlighted the recent closure of three pubs in the south of Monmouthshire. Cllr Neill, who represents Gobion Fawr, said applicants will often set out the importance of gaining a licence, or a variation such as an extension of hours, to their personal circumstances or business. He asked: 'Are we not able to add an additional objective indicating support for the local economy? It does look like we are geared towards prevention.' Council solicitor Julian Sanders said any additional objective would have to be considered by the licensing department and at a future committee hearing. Jane Rogers, the council's social services director who also has responsibility for public protection, said: 'I think decisions on whether to grant a licence would have to be determined by the four policy objectives.' She said further consideration could be given to the suggestion of an additional objective in the policy but said: 'My understanding in how you grant a licence you would have to stick to those statutory reasons.' Cllr Eason, who represents Dewstow in Caldicot, questioned if the policy could disadvantage rural businesses as it states 'later hours will generally be more appropriate within the town centres than other areas of the county'. He said: 'In the south of the county three pubs have closed and a fourth is likely to go on the market, would restricting licensing hours be detrimental to these businesses?' But licensing officer Samantha Winn said the council doesn't take a blanket approach and the act is intended to allow varied closing times across 24 hours. She said decisions are made with local knowledge, from the police and the council's environmental health department, which will suggest conditions such as opening and closing times, but those have to be based on evidence such as past incidents. When an objection is made the sub-committee of councillors will make a decision. Caldicot Labour councillor Jackie Strong asked if the council has Public Spaces Protection Orders, that can ban drinking in certain areas, and Ms Winn said over the past five years there have been nine, mostly in parts of Abergavenny and Monmouth, but most have expired. The draft policy was put out to consultation from the end of January to March but only the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, which provided up dated health information on alcohol harms, responded. Conservative Chepstow St Kingsmark member Christopher Edwards asked if it was unusual to have no responses and Ms Rogers said it wasn't. It was confirmed there were 'read receipts' to emails sent to statutory consultees such as Gwent Police. The final policy will have to be approved by the full council.
