COUNCILLORS and highways engineers from Monmouthshire County Council have met with a local timber company to address residents’ concerns over heavy traffic on the neighbouring road network.

Residents of Hereford Road in Mardy had drawn attention to the number and speed of timber delivery lorries travelling from mid-Wales to the Pontrilas Sawmills.

Following the meeting, the council have stated the sawmill managers will consider re-routing a number of their lorries through Abergavenny via Merthyr Road and they will write to the Welsh Government in support of an A40 by-pass to the south of the town.

The council were further assured that the firm will emphasise to drivers that they should use Hereford Road only when necessary and provide details to the council’s highways team on future harvesting operations.

Meanwhile, the council state they will look at the feasibility of extending the 30mph speed limit on Hereford Road as well as offering the attendance of the road safety officer at the firm’s Certificate of Professional Competence driving workshops.

Councillor Bryan Jones, cabinet member for county operations said, ‘Our meeting with the sawmill management was a productive one and we will examine the proposed measures with a view to improving the traffic issues around Mardy.’