Further study on town congestion schemes will cost Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire councils £1 million

The figure has been quoted by Capita, which has been commissioned by Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire councils to produce a Welsh transport appraisal guidance (WelTAG) study.

An outer bypass around Chepstow, a new M48 junction outside the town, and improved rail services to and from Bristol, were identified as preferred solutions to traffic and air quality issues on the A48 and A466.

The A48 at Hardwick Hill, Chepstow. Pic: Google

Each of the schemes could cost millions – more than £100 million in the case of the bypass – to deliver, despite uncertainty over how they would be funded.

Both authorities shared the £33,839 cost of the first stage report but will now look to the Welsh Government to help fund the WelTAG’s costly second phase.

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A Monmouthshire council spokesman said: “Such a report will involve a considerable amount of work, including the outline design and assessment of a number of potential transport schemes as well as extensive data so that a robust decision on the optimum solution can be determined and taken forward.”

Monmouthshire councillors will discuss the study’s initial findings, and decide whether to progress to the next stage, with Gloucestershire councillors at a private meeting on Monday.

Monmouthshire County Council's offices at County Hall, Usk

The report, which was obtained by the Argus, is expected to be made public after the meeting.

“Should the members support WelTAG stage two, funding will need to be determined which is likely to include contributions from Welsh Government, Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire councils,” the spokesman added.

The preferred bypass, which would be a direct link between the A48 to the east of Chepstow and the M48, remains the most popular scheme amongst local and national politicians.

Gwent County Council had considered a bypass crossing the River Wye through Thornwell and connecting with the A48 in Sedbury in the 1980s and 1990s but plans never came to fruition.