THE Welsh Conservative Candidate for Monmouth has branded a potential Chepstow bypass a "crucial infrastructure project".

The Welsh Conservatives have pledged in their Manifesto to deliver a bypass for Chepstow "to address persistent congestion and air pollution blighting the town and surrounding area".

Peter Fox, the Senedd Candidate for the Monmouth constituency, said:“Persistent congestion and high levels of air pollution have been hampering opportunities in Chepstow for far too long.

“Bluntly, Chepstow cannot wait any longer for the crucial bypass to be given the green light.

“For this project to become a reality will now require all sides to also commit to it.

“We urgently need to unlock the true potential of this corner of Wales."

Nick Ramsay, who is standing as an indepedent candidate, said: "I have repeatedly made the case for a Chepstow Bypass to ease congestion and pollution in the town.

“The reality is of course that at least two thirds of the new road would be across the border in Gloucestershire so we need to see the UK Government commit to this project wholeheartedly.”

Green Party candidate Ian Chandler said that the idea of building a new road to deal with congestion was like the saying "to a man with a hammer, every problem looks like a nail".

"Not only will it take many years if not decades to be built, but experience from across the UK tells us that new roads simply generate new traffic and the original problems remain," he said.

"In the short-term, money needs to be spent on improving choke-points such as the High Beech roundabout."

He stressed the need to look forward, not backward, after the pandemic.

The Liberal Democrats' Jo Watkins said that she was glad to see other parties "have finally decided to join the campaign".

"The road infrastructure around Chepstow is completely inadequate for the amount of new development being proposed in the area," she said.

"Radical action needs to be taken."

Laurence Williams, Gwlad candidate for Monmouth, supported the idea of a bypass, saying it would also improve access to Chepstow Racecourse.

All parties were contacted for comment.