PLANS for a new car park to serve Severn Tunnel Junction train station have been approved by Monmouthshire council.

The car park will be built on a vacant site near the station, which was previously used as a yard by Network Rail for the building of a railway bridge and for work to electrify the line.

It will provide 172 car parking spaces, including 10 with electric vehicle charging points and a further 16 which could be converted in the future.

Concerns were raised by Rogiet Community Council and some residents about the development increasing traffic.

The community council said it was concerned over traffic increasing on Station Road, near to a primary school.

It also said that increasing traffic in an area with “poor pedestrian safety” is “of great concern”.

But a planning report which recommended approval said the facility would encourage people to use public transport and reduce parking problems for residents in the area.

The report said the car park will increase traffic, but planners were satisfied this could be accommodated on the road network.

While the station already has parking facilities, there is a ‘shortfall’ of spaces which leads to parking on residential streets near to the station in Rogiet.

The existing Transport for Wales car park at Severn Tunnel Junction charges commuters a daily rate of £4.

The council’s highways department said the new car park, which will be managed by Monmouthshire council, would help address the issue.

“The proposal will also, if the car parking charges are realistic, significantly reduce the inconvenience that existing residents are experiencing form commuters parking in the residential streets in Rogiet,” it said.

A report recommending approval said the benefits of the proposal outweighed concerns.

“Although the proposal has the potential to increase traffic movements within the area, most likely at key commuter times in the day, this impact of this must be weighed up in relation to the benefits that would arise to the wider community in terms of a reduction in pollution and traffic congestion, as a result of an increased number of vehicles being removed from the road, as rail users take advantage of enhanced access to the facility, and the amenity benefits to be enjoyed as a result of parked cars being removed from the highway,” it said.

A decision notice approving the plans was issued on Thursday.

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