Delay fears for Chepstow town revamp (From Free Press Series)

Delay fears for Chepstow town revamp

THE Chepstow regeneration scheme could be as much as four months behind schedule, a top Monmouthshire councillor has admitted.

But Cllr Graham Down, cabinet member for resources, insisted everything possible would be done to speed up the work to help local traders get back to normal as quickly as possible.

The £1.7 million project was due to finish in November so as not to affect the town's Christmas trade.

The plan involved turning High Street into a one-way system but the new traffic scheme, introduced last April, caused chaos and left motorists stuck in noisy traffic jams for hours.

The town regeneration group, made up of Monmouthshire county council, town council and some traders, abandoned the one-way system after just a week and returned the town to a two-way system.

The delay in building and design that accompanied that reverse and further delays while contractors waited for materials to be delivered sent the cost spiralling over budget.

Councillor Down said: "Officers' briefings revealed that the overspend on Chepstow regeneration is a six figure amount and that we are four months behind schedule but nobody has been able to tell us more than that.

"Significant delays over the one-way system and a hold-up in material supplies meant the contract was held up.

"We are now trying to get back on track both cost and time-wise but to finish the whole town before Christmas for the sake of traders means bringing in extra workers - this will further increase the cost."

Officers met with contractors on Monday to try and find out how far over budget the scheme is at present.