VETERAN Gwent politician Graham Powell will today launch a bid to secure a 7,000 job Gateway to Wales project for Monmouthshire.

Aspects of the £400m scheme for 1,000 acres at Severnside has already been discussed in committee by the Monmouthshire county council cabinet.

Behind-the-scenes discussions have been taking place at officer level between the council and representatives for the proposed developers for some time.

The full council will be asked to approve a decision made in camera at a previous cabinet in relation to the scheme which is listed in the minutes simply as a "development proposal."

Former county council leader Councillor Powell, who represents Caldicot, will seek to convince fellow members of the merit of the P&O Developments backed scheme. P&O Developments is looking to create a university campus-style science and business park between Rogiet in the east and Magor and Undy to the west.

The project, which is being supported by the University of Wales College, Newport, would act as a catalyst for entrepreneurs and established hi-tech businesses to interact with graduates and researchers.

Full council will be asked to ratify this decision today. Councillor Powell told the Argus the scheme will create 7,000 jobs, university facilities and a park and ride scheme linked to a new railway station.

He added: "Of course I am in favour of the scheme, anybody that isn't is a idiot. "Anyone who is opposed to it is not giving sufficient consideration to the 2,600 people that are 15 years of age and over in the ten comprehensive schools in the catchment area and saying to them 'You're not going to get a job'."

* A planning application for the Gateway to Wales scheme has not yet been submitted to the county council but a spokesman for the developers said: "We are working on the finer details of the plan and the lodging of a planning application is imminent."