Press release Re A40 Meeting

Published: 10 February 2025

Press release:

Raglan Community Council

Dear Editor

Raglan Community Council was pleased that officers from Welsh Government Network Management Division, Members from Raglan and Mitchel Troy Community Councils, and ward members for Monmouthshire County Council, Cllr’s Penny Jones and Richard John attended the meeting. Also in attendance were Cllr Catrin Maby, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment at Monmouthshire County Council, Laura Jones MS and representatives for Senedd Members Peter Fox and Natasha Asghar.

The meeting was convened following the publication of the Raglan Bypass Safety Study published in June 2024. Raglan Community Council delivered a power point presentation and expressed their concern regarding the number of accidents/incidents that have been witnessed since June 2020 along with the countless near misses. Officers from Network Management Division said that they have concerns but the junctions haven’t seen sufficient incidents to warrant increasing the priority to make these junctions safe for everyone. A discussion took place and the Network Management Division explained they would consider reducing the speed limit to 50 MPH, but it was said the reduction in the speed limit wouldn’t make the junctions any safer. It was said “For some good reason or fate….NO-ONE has lost their lives. We have people in this room today with the authority and the means to improve this junction for everyone’s safety, and elected members of Raglan and Mitchel Troy Community Councils would implore you to act before someone does lose their life”. It was enforced that Raglan residents demand safety for residents and visitors to the area which must come first above money. The Community Council recognise that the Welsh Government has reduced the speed limit to 50 MPH in this location, but again this action has not had the intended effect.

The community witnessed a further serious accident where it was reported that the rear seat passengers in one of the cars were a lady and gentleman in their seventies who had sustained potentially life-threatening injuries. Cllr Maby, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment asked the officers from Network Management Division if they could look at some quick wins in the interim to make this road safer for its users. It was also asked if the pedestrian crossing from Primrose Road and Raglan Castle could be looked at due to the number of people who walk and take their families to the Castle. The Clerk of Raglan Community Council said that members of Raglan Community Council will be continuing to lobby Welsh Government to make improvements to two these junctions on the A40.

End