Speed signs installed but concerns remain over safety

Signs showing drivers what speed they are travelling at have been put up near a school and where a pedestrian was hit by a lorry. 

Calls for road safety improvements were made after the 51-year-old was struck by a lorry on Welsh Street while returning from Chepstow Leisure Centre in February. She had to undergo surgery after suffering multiple broken bones. 

Local councillor Christopher Edwards said there have been a number of a safety concerns raised on the road that runs from the roundabout, near Chepstow Racecourse, into the town centre and past the Dell Primary School as well as the comprehensive and adjacent leisure centre. 

The Conservative asked, in March, what plans Monmouthshire County Council had to improve road safety and at September’s full council meeting asked for an update on progress. 

Cllr Catrin Maby, the cabinet member responsible for highways, said the speed indication signs have now been installed and said Police Community Support Officers will also be in the area. 

She said: “Further traffic monitoring is due to be carried out in the coming weeks now schools have returned. 

“The police have agreed to have PCSOs present at school drop off times in the first few weeks of the new term to reiterate the safety message.” 

Cllr Edwards said he was “disappointed” there had been no further information, following his request in March, for a road safety review to take place and St Lawrene Road, and Cllr Maby apologised if she had “misunderstood” the question from five months previously that he’d been expecting an answer to. 

As  a result Cllr Edwards highlighted the council’s constitution requires written responses to formal questions, that can’t be answered in the chamber, to be provided within five working days. 

Cllr Edwards sough clarification on whether the onus is on councillors to chase answers or for cabinet members to provide them or whether it an administrative process handled by democratic services. 

Chief executive Paul Matthews promised clarity would be provided, to all councillors, within 24 hours and Cllr Edwards said that has since been provided and after seeking further clarity from the monitoring officer he confirmed “standing orders require the Cabinet member to send a written response. Therefore the onus is on the cabinet member.” 

Cllr Edwards said he’s previously been frustrated at a failure to send a written answer to a question on Chepstow School and said other councillors have also raised the issue. 

*Gwent Police said an investigation remains ongoing after a 30-year-old man from Sedbury was arrested on suspicion of drving under the influence of drugs and causing a serious injury by dangerous driving.