TRYING to get the Welsh government to change the speed limit on a bridge in Chepstow has been like “hitting your head against a brick wall,” a campaigner has said.

Chepstow Town Council has coordinated a long-running campaign to try to get the speed limit changed on the A48 bridge from its current 50mph to 30mph, principally for Wyedean School pupils.

It is thought about half of the school’s 1,200 pupils use the bridge twice a day for their trip to school.

And The town council’s clerk Sandra Bushell said she is frustrated by the lack of attention the Welsh government has paid to its campaign.

In a letter to economy, science and transport minister Edwina Hart, Ms Bushell wrote: “In the last two years we have not received any explanation of the thinking behind retaining the 50mph speed limit on the bridge and naturally councillors and the public are somewhat perplexed by the situation.”

The minister wrote back on Wednesday and told her the decision to keep the speed limit was decided as part of a recent review of Wales’ trunk road network.

But she offered some consolation that it might be altered in the future in another letter last month.

She wrote: “The trunk road network is continually monitored to identify potential road safety improvements and the review of speed limits is an ongoing process.”

It is understood additional measures to improve the safety on the bridge could see 1.5 metre high metal guardrails, which could be 1.5 metres high, could be installed on the bridge before the end of the current financial year. These could run from the Station Road junction to the bottom of steps leading to Beachley Road.

The details were of where they will be placed was disclosed by Ms Hart in a letter to the council – but the height of the rails is still to be confirmed.

A Monmouthshire council spokeswoman said: “We support the proposal to lower the speed limit, however, but the decision is down to the Welsh government.”