A CALDICOT garage owner says he is losing business as a result of the gridlock caused by delays to roadworks on the old Severn Bridge.

Jonathan Chappell, 41, runs the St Arvans Garage just off the A466 near Chepstow with his business partner Jonathan Bladon.

Mr Chappell, who opened the garage in March, 2015, said on a good day, the nine-mile journey to work would only take him 15 minutes but it has taken twice as long in recent weeks.

As a result of the gridlock, he claims, many customers are being put off venturing to St Arvans at peak times for car repairs.

He said: “At the Chepstow Racecourse, too, they have meetings on and it might just be bad planning with timing, but they all seem to be kicked out at 5.30pm and the traffic is horrific and goes all the way back to us in St Arvans.

“A lot of people don’t bother coming to get their car at certain times and leave it to the next day which affects us.

“Some people we’ve lost altogether and they just don’t bother turning up.”

Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay has received complaints from constituents about the works, which are being carried out by Severn River Crossing PLC.

Mr Ramsay says residents want alternative arrangements to ease congestion ahead of the estimated completion date in September.

In a letter to the Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, Ken Skates AM, he said: “People using the Severn Bridge regularly for work and pleasure are becoming very tired of the long delays caused because of the repair work being carried out.

“I understand the work will be continuing until late September and with the main tourist season about to begin, the current problems are likely to get far worse at peak times in the next few months.

“My constituents have contacted customer services for the Severn crossings who say they are aware of the problems and are doing their best to alleviate them – but with queuing on the Chepstow side of the bridge stretching back to St Arvans in the morning rush hour and taking well over an hour to get anywhere near the bridge, many people are understandably becoming extremely frustrated.

“Constituents are calling for work to be carried out around the clock or with a larger workforce so that the repairs can be completed more quickly. They would also like information on queuing status on the M4 and elsewhere if possible so that people can make plans to avoid the worst of the queues.

“I hope this issue will be investigated as soon as possible in the hope that improvements will be made.”

David Foxford-Brown, 46, who runs the Coach and Horses pub and the Poppy’s Plaice café in Chepstow, has not been affected by the delays as he commutes from Clevedon near Bristol.

The army veteran says he leaves his home at around 9am and makes the return journey from Chepstow at 3.30pm.

He said: “Getting in and out, because I commute daily, it hasn’t affected me coming in because I’m going against the traffic.

“Everyone seems to be going to Bristol and when I go to Chepstow, it’s quiet. But I do see all the traffic building up on the opposite sides.”

A spokesman for Severn River Crossing PLC was contacted for a comment.