COUNCILLORS from Tidenham have urged Monmouthshire council to reject plans to build up to 600 homes on the National Shipyard No 1 site in Chepstow.

In a document the Tidenham Parish Council has sent to Monmouthshire council’s planning department, its administrator Kevin Duffin said councillors were concerned with the “inevitable increase in road traffic” in and around Chepstow.

Members of the parish council’s planning committee said the development would only act to make “already poor air quality” on Chepstow’s Hardwick Hill worse and that traffic could block the A48 leading into Gloucestershire for emergency vehicles.

He continued: “Although this proposed development is not in our district it will have a huge impact on the residents of Tidenham Parish and we urge Monmouthshire County Council to apply ‘joined up’ thinking by taking into consideration the major planning applications already granted permission on this side of the border.”

Welsh Government plans to ease Chepstow’s traffic problems were slammed as “daft” by some residents when they were announced last month.

They include stopping motorists turning right at the Bulwark junction onto Hardwick Hill and improving the High Beech roundabout, although no definitive policies have been released yet.

Among the housing developments passed in Gloucestershire, Barton Willmore won an appeal in November to build 110 homes in Sedbury.

Last month Gloucestershire council submitted a document expressing concern that developers had said only 40 more westbound traffic movements would be expected at morning and afternoon peak times if the estate got the go ahead.

But the authorities are still waiting to hold a meeting to discuss concerns.

A Gloucestershire council spokeswoman said: “Gloucestershire County Council put forward concerns about the development in January and although a meeting has not been held yet, we hope Monmouthshire County Council will take these representations into account.”

And Monmouthshire council’s traffic and network manager Paul Keeble said: “No meeting has taken place yet with neighbouring Gloucestershire County Council in connection with the traffic assessment arising from the Mabey Bridge development. However, Gloucestershire’s attention was drawn to the Mabey Bridge site when we met to discuss a potential development at Sedbury recently.

“Mon CC would welcome a meeting with Gloucestershire and it may also be appropriate to involve the Welsh Government as the body responsible for the A48 trunk route through Chepstow.”