LOCAL traders and residents have just one week to make their views on the arrival of a JD Wetherspoon's pub in Chepstow town centre known to the town council before a crucial planning debate next Wednesday.

The popular chain of pubs has submitted an application to move into numbers 9 and 10 in St Mary's Street, taking over the current premises of Chepstow and Bulwark Home Improvement Supplies.

However, any public objections to the move will only be accepted on planning grounds at this stage - rather than on what effects another pub could have on local businesses or late- night anti-social behaviour.

Representations need to be made to Chepstow town clerk Sandra Bushall before Wednesday, November 23, if they are to be considered by the committee next week.

Mrs Bushall said: "If members of the public want to contact us before the meeting with any objections or letters of support they will be considered when the town council makes it's recommendation.

"But matters of licensing are not an issue at this stage - the planning committee will meet to decide purely whether to support the application on planning grounds and offer their view to Monmouthshire County Council."

JD Wetherspoon's already has branches open in Monmouth, Abergavenny, Blackwood and Newport and the Free Press first revealed the company was looking at expanding into Chepstow in March (pictured, above right).

A spokesman for the company said this week: "Our plans are still in the early stages but the pub would be much the same as others like it, in that it would serve food throughout the day.

"Depending on planning and licensing permission, we would also hope to open an hour earlier and an hour later at night under the new licensing laws.

"Once we do have planning and licensing granted, we normally look to be open within six months.

"We invest around £1million in each pub at the start and will look to employ around 40 staff."

Monmouthshire County Council's licensing department said they had not yet received an application for a premises license but under Mr Gershan's timescale, the pub could be open by the summer if councillors back the scheme.