A TRAFFIC officer could patrol Caldicot town centre in a bid to stop illegal driving in the pedestrianised zones.

In a public meeting held at Caldicot Town Council offices on Friday, around 20 members of the public attended to voice their concerns about vehicles driving through Newport Road, which is a pedestrian zone and prohibits any vehicles from entering the area.

Cllr Alan Davies, Mayor of Caldicot, who chaired the meeting as a member of the public, said: “To me there is no more important issue in Caldicot than public safety. We all know there have been near misses - this cannot be allowed to continue.

"In Chepstow they contribute towards a traffic officer. This is one solution to have in place in the short term."

Aaron Reeks, chairman of the Caldicot Town Team, said that he would look into the possibility of the team financing a traffic officer for Newport Road providing it is approved by the Severnside Programme Board. A number of business owners were present at the meeting and voiced their concerns over their access to deliveries on Newport Road.

Christine Langley, owner of Caldicot Pet Supplies, said: “We are one of the shops that don’t have rear access for deliveries. We are in the same situation as we were two months ago when we had a meeting with council officers.

“If all the shops in Caldicot can apply for permits there will be no change to what it is now.”

Monmouthshire council is currently in the process of sorting out annual permits for businesses who need access to the road for deliveries. All of the businesses on Newport Road have rear access to their establishments, except seven.

Sgt Phil Purcell said his officers have spoken with delivery drivers and handed out numerous warnings to vehicles in the pedestrian zone.

He said: "Personally I agree with placing bollards as they are effective in other towns such as Abergavenny. We've given quite a lot of warnings but the reality is as you know that we have one PC in Caldicot, myself a Sergeant and six PCSOs.

"There has not been a fatal accident in the town centre in the 12 months I have been here. Caldicot has a brilliant safety record - the best in Monmouthshire. And that's how we would like to keep it."

The financing of a traffic officer is on the agenda for the Severnside Programme Board Meeting which will be held on September 22.