SOME Chepstow councillors remain unconvinced that proposed road alterations for the town will improve traffic flow.

With over 400 new houses set to be built in Chepstow as part of Monmouthshire council's Local Development Plan, a number of changes are set to be made to the town's roads.

But at a town council meeting it was obvious that some councillors fear the new proposed road changes will not cope with the increase in traffic.

MCC's Head of Planning, George Ashworth, attended the town council meeting as part of ongoing consultations over the controversial LDP, which will earmark land for 4,000 new houses across Monmouthshire.

Mr Ashworth said plans to introduce a traffic lighted system and widening of High Beech roundabout to create a dedicated 'turn-left' filter lane onto the A48 would tackle congestion and speed up traffic flow.

He added: "It's certainly the preferred method as the other was to put a roundabout on Station Road and I'm always loathed to put roundabouts in urban areas as they look an alien feature.

"We think the traffic lighted system will be much better. It will speed up traffic flow and go some way to addressing the issues on Hardwick Hill."

Hardwick Hill has long been a bone of contention for MCC after it was identified by the EU as an 'Air Quality Management Zone' - meaning it generates unacceptable levels of pollution. MCC is charged with finding a solution to the problem otherwise the EU will fine the Welsh Government.

Cllr Armand Watts said: "I don't think these measures will help tackle the thousands of additional traffic movements we are going to see in this town. The development's too much. You're trying to put a camel through the eye of a needle."

Cllr Phylip Hobson said: "You say you want to put a dedicated turn-left lane on High Beech onto the A48, but the first left takes you into Fairview. So that's not going to work. You're going to have confused lorries ending up in Fairview."

Plans for over 169 houses to be built on the former Osborne site near the A48 and 240 on the Mabey Bridge site on Station Road have met fierce opposition from local residents, businesses and councillors.

Many argue the lower end of Chepstow is already too heavily congested compounded by the notorious traffic flow problems on Hardwick Hill and Bulwark Corner.