Llanover County Councillor Sara Jones, and Monmouth Assembly Member Nick Ramsay, have presented the Senedd with their petition calling for the resurfacing of the A40 Raglan- Abergavenny road.

The petition was handed over to the Chair of the Assembly’s Petitions Committee, Mike Hedges AM, on the steps of the Senedd last Tuesday (July 12).

The petition collectively received 164 signatures, and follows a long-standing campaign by local residents who have repeatedly called on the Welsh Government to take action over this issue.

The community has been plagued with excessive road noise over many years since the concrete A40 bypass was constructed in the early 1980s.

The petition calls on the Welsh Government to replace the concrete surface of the A40 road from Raglan to Abergavenny with ‘whisper tarmac’.

It states: “We, the undersigned, state that this road should be given immediate priority, given the numerous concerns raised from both public and representatives and that it has been identified under the existing Welsh Government Noise Action Plan.”

County Councillor Sara Jones said, “Residents in my ward have been campaigning for the resurfacing of the A40 Raglan-Abergavenny road for many, many years.

“This road is one of only three stretches of concrete trunk road remaining in Wales and was identified by the Welsh Government following a 2012 consultation as a priority under its action plan 2013-18.

“Given the noise impact for residents, and also the poor driving condition for those motorists that use it, we are calling for the Welsh Government to take action on their action plan and begin work on a whispering tarmac surface as a priority.”

AM Nick Ramsay added, “The top level of concrete has deteriorated and the noise is exacerbated as vehicles cross the rubber expansion joints between the concrete slabs - a common design at the time.

“Local residents are rightly concerned about proposals for a noise reducing fence along the stretch nearest the Bryn which does not shield the whole village and does nothing for neighbouring communities.”

The Assembly’s petitions committee has considered the petition and will write to the Minister to ask for a response before convening again to discuss the item in the autumn.