It's all downhill from here! (From Free Press Series)

It's all downhill from here!

A CONTROVERSIAL one-way system planned for Chepstow town centre will take effect from next Wednesday, the Free Press can reveal.

From 10am on April 21, all traffic through the town centre will be restricted to travelling downhill only.

The move is arguably the biggest step in the town centre's massive facelift which began last month and is due to finish in November.

The partnership involved in planning the scheme admits the one-way system may cause initial difficulties but a spokesman said he was confident that they would be "more than offset by the longer term benefits that will result from this change".

Following the completion of the scheme, it is hoped that Chepstow High Street will have seen the last of the almost daily "log jams" caused by parked cars, cars travelling up through the town waiting for green traffic lights and goods vehicles stopping in the highway as loading bays are full.

This should lead to a great reduction in both noise and exhaust fume levels and will inevitably make a visit to Chepstow, an altogether more pleasant experience.

A Monmouthshire County Council spokesman said: "It is accepted that there may be some teething problems, if only due to a lack of understanding or knowledge of the change but we remain confident about the benefits that will result from these works."

As part of the introduction of one way traffic in High Street, the Chepstow High Street Regeneration Working Group is introducing the following measures:

Temporary signage which provides direction both through the town centre and into the car parks

Permanent advanced signage that will reflect the changes in the High Street area

Provision of a free 15 minute stay in Welsh Street car park

The re-phasing of traffic lights on the A48 and at the town arch, to accommodate the changes in traffic flow through the town