MONMOUTH’S Assembly Member has said he is concerned that the town seem to have been dropped from maps for the planned South Wales Metro system published earlier this week.

On Tuesday the Welsh Government’s economy, science and transport minister Edwina Hart published what she said was a long-term map of what she hopes the £600 million project will become.

But Monmouthshire’s county town is not included on it - even though past ones had shown a link to it from other towns.

Nick Ramsay raised his concerns at the Senedd and said: “It is deeply concerning that Monmouth seems to have been dropped from the Welsh Government’s latest map of the Metro.

“The A449 is a vital north to south strategic route and tailor-made for inclusion in the emerging public transport strategy, which includes improved rail, light rail, tram and bus links. "It makes no sense to exclude the A449 or the A40 from the Metro proposals.

Mr Ramsay added: “Too often the town of Monmouth feels ignored by the Welsh Government when it comes to public transport upgrades. The town has battled with declining public transport links over the years since the town lost all its links to the railway network in the late 1950s.

“Clearly reconnecting Monmouth to the railway network would be very costly and is not on the current agenda but being on the Metro map is vital to ensure enhanced bus services and future improvements in public transport.

“As the county town Monmouth should definitely be on the map and I am pressing the Welsh Government to put it back on the map at the earliest opportunity.”

Of Mr Ramsay’s concerns, a Welsh Government spokesman said: “The map was produced to aid in our initial engagement with industry on the next phase, it has no planning status. "The services and stations which will form part of the Metro in the next phase and beyond have yet to be decided.”

Mrs Hart said earlier in the week that she hoped the Metro would “not only act as a link between our communities but also support the Welsh economy by enhancing connectivity across Wales into the rest of the UK and Europe.”