Residents and business owners in Gilwern are considering a protest march to highlight the way their daily lives are being blighted by traffic restrictions and road closures related to the A465 dualling scheme.

One major concern is the size and number of vehicles regularly using Maesygwartha Road as a rat-run to avoid traffic delays - reaching speeds of up to 60mph on a road built in the 18th century for limestone trolleys.

Another is that diversion signs around the village are both inadequate and misleading, leaving visitors confused about whether the shops in the high street are open for business.

Residents’ parking is also a problem, while those travelling to and from the village for work are facing lengthy delays.

Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay has already passed on the residents’ concerns to the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Minister for Infrastructure, Ken Skates AM and to Costain, the company delivering the dualling scheme.

“Clearly, the situation is becoming intolerable and something must be done to improve traffic management in this area,” he said.

With another full closure of the Heads of the Valleys road between Brynmawr and Gilwern scheduled for next weekend (from 8.30pm on Friday April 7 to 6am on Monday April 10) and with the tourist season approaching, local people fear the situation can only get worse.

Jane Pratt, Conservative Candidate for Llanelly Hill, said, “I feel Costain promised everything at the public enquiry stage but now only seem concerned about work on the Heads of the Valleys Road and not the plight of residents.

“Whilst residents and businesses accept that the road improvement scheme will be worth it in the end, there’s a feeling that the disruption to their lives has been far greater than they had imagined or were led to believe.

“Costain are being very vague - saying they hope the scheme will be finished this year. I think the Welsh Government should show more leadership because this work needs to be done as a matter of urgency, particularly with the tourist season starting.”

She says she will be putting pressure on all the parties involved to ensure that disruption is minimised and the situation resolved as soon as possible.

One resident of Maesygwartha Road, Garry Hill, says large vehicles like cement mixers using the lane have twice knocked down his boundary wall. His car has also been smashed.

“People at Maesygwartha have had enough. Sooner or later there’s going to be a serious accident here.

“We’re getting 40-ton cement mixers and 35-ton lorries driving up here in the evening instead of going on the Heads of the Valleys road.

“My wall, which was originally built in the 1700s around a catchment pond for the iron works, was knocked down by a lorry but Costain wouldn’t pay for the repair because they said there was no proof! Monmouthshire County Council said they couldn’t do it for two years but would pay for the materials if I did it myself.

“So I did the work - but then another section of the wall was knocked down! I’m not going to repair that. I’ve had a gutful.

“This road was built in 1795 for limestone trolleys and has never been upgraded, even for motor cars.

“We used to get one or two vehicles a day using the lane, now after 5pm it’s like the M1. Sometimes we can’t get out of here for an hour.

“It was such a beautiful place. People used to walk and cycle and ride horses up here but it’s far too dangerous now with traffic hurtling down at 50-60mph.

“The road is being ruined too, with mud everywhere and the verges getting wider and wider as vehicles try to pass each other.”

He says drivers are simply ignoring the 7.5ton weight restriction and ‘access only’ signs put up 18 months ago.

“It’s going to get even worse when they start blasting rock at the top and need more closures on the A465.”

He thinks diversions should be put in place as far away as Newport and Monmouth - taking traffic via Crickhowell and over the moors to Llangynidr or over the mountain past Keepers Pond.

Another Maesygwartha resident, Chris Bromfield, runs a popular butcher’s shop in Gilwern village.

He says he’s losing so much business during the weekend road closures that it’s not worth opening.

“Initially people were driving here regardless, then they started phoning to see if the Heads of the Valleys road was closed. We’ve asked Costain to put a sign at The Beaufort Arms telling visitors that it’s ‘Business as Usual’ in the village when there’s a road closure - but so far nothing has materialised.

“We sell boxes of meat for a special price which we advertise on Facebook and get a lot of orders from places like Ebbw Vale. Normally we have thirty to forty orders at weekends but last time the road was closed ten customers didn’t turn up. It meant that a lot of the meat in the boxes, such as mince and sausages, had to be thrown away.

“Normally I would take £1,000 to £1,500 on a Saturday but the last time the road was closed I only took £200. It’s just not worth getting the staff in.”

Living alongside the Maesygwartha ‘rat-run’ is a constant concern too.

“They’re using the road automatically now to avoid the A465 delays - and travelling at the same speed as on the Heads of the Valleys road, including late at night.

“It’s totally unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles but no-one takes any notice.

“We used to regularly take our 14-month-old baby and our dogs on a circular walk but not anymore. It’s far too dangerous.

“I’m not against the dualling scheme because it will ultimately improve things but no-one is addressing our concerns, they’re just passing the buck.

“Things that would have helped such as better signing, a one-way system, speed bumps and so on should have been thought through before the work started.”Costain told the Chronicle the lane restrictions and any closures on the A465 are necessary in order to build the dualling works safely.A spokesperson said, “We continuously monitor and review the situation relating to traffic and any disruption caused by the weekend road closures or any other restrictions on the A465. “We consider both local and regional impacts of our works and the effects that it has on both residents and road users. Our current strategy has been developed in conjunction with Monmouthshire County Council and Gwent Police with the aim to divert as much of the traffic as possible remote from the scheme. The strategy is constantly reviewed to see what, if any improvements can be made. “We have an official diversion in place via Pontypool that is suitable for all vehicles including HGVs, which is promoted on the Traffic Wales website and our social media outlets.“Maesygwartha or any other local roads adjacent to the scheme are not promoted as diversion routes.“We understand there are issues at Maesygwartha that we take very seriously. If any local residents would like to talk to us about their concerns or have any suggestions for improvements then we welcome them to get in touch with us.”The company adds that, following a recent request from local businesses, ‘Business as Usual’ signs are to be erected on the next weekend closure (April 7-10) and on any closures thereafter. “The delay to the works at Glanbaiden is primarily as a result of lack of details regarding the diverted watermain when it was installed as part of dualling between Abergavenny and Gilwern. “We are working closely with Welsh Government and Dwr Cymru Welsh Water to develop a suitable solution as soon as possible that allows the road to be finished running over the top of the Glanbaiden Interchange.“The delay is not affecting traffic using the existing roundabout at Glanbaiden nor will it impact on the completion of the A465 Section 2 dualling scheme between Brynmawr and Gilwern. Currently the scheme is programmed to complete by autumn 2018.”