White Paper for Clean Air

The Welsh Government has put out a clean air white paper for consultation, which includes proposals for a new air quality target setting framework alongside plans to improve the local air quality management regime. It also includes plans to introduce a new dedicated charging scheme for trunk roads, further anti-idling guidance and the power for local authorities to increase the amount of fixed penalty fines for idling. The paper is at https://gov.wales/white-paper-clean-air-wales-bill  and comments are needed by 7 April

MCC Restart Development Plan Consultation

Monmouthshire County Council is restarting consultations on its Replacement Local Development Plan (RLDP) for the County (excluding the area within the Brecon Beacons National Park) which will cover the period 2018-2033.  The Council is revisiting the Growth and Spatial Options stage of the RLDP process due to the publication of the Welsh Government 2018-based population and household projections.

The consultation sets out a number of alternative growth and spatial strategy options for the RLDP having regard to the Plan’s evidence base and policy aspirations, and identifies what are currently the Council’s preferred growth and spatial options that are considered to best address the County’s key issues/challenges and meet the RLDP objectives. The current preferences will be reviewed in the light of consultation responses.  Details at https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/planning-policy/planning-policy-current-consultations/

A number of virtual events (Microsoft Teams live events) will take place during the consultation/engagement period, whereby officers will present the alternative growth and spatial strategy options and respond to questions. These events will be open for all to access. Details of these events can be viewed on the Council’s website via the following link: https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/planning-policy/planning-policy-current-consultations/

Comments are invited on the questions set out in the Growth and Spatial Options Paper. The document is available for non-statutory public consultation from Monday 4 January to Monday 1 February 2021.

MCC Backs Burns Report

Monmouthshire County Council has welcomed the recommendations of the South East Wales Transport Commission (Burns) Final Report and in particular the proposed improvements to rail and bus services as essential alternatives to the M4 Newport relief road.  The council also supports the quick win measures proposed for improving Active Travel and integrated ticketing, as well as the medium and longer term recommendations for upgrading the county’s stations and bus services.

The Council welcomes the proposal for a new bus-priority direct access off the M48 to  Severn Tunnel Junction, along with an upgrade of Chepstow station and a new station at Magor.  However it would also like consideration to be given to the wider potential benefits of the proposed M48 access for the Severnside area, for example by reducing traffic levels on the B4245. It would like to see a separate but concurrent transport study carried out for this area at the same time as the assessment and outline design of the new motorway junction.

Boom in Renewable Energy Proposals

There are now three proposals for solar energy ‘parks’ on the Gwent Levels.  There is an undetermined 155ha proposal west of Newport between St Brides and Peterstone, a much smaller one by Newport City Council west of the Ebbw near Maesglas landfill site, and now a 100ha proposal at Redwick, east of Newport, just touching the Monmouthshire boundary; this is at the pre-application consultation stage – Rush Wall Solar Park – BSR Energy – respond by 8 January.

There is also an emerging proposal for a substantial solar ‘farm’ near Penpergwm, south-east of Abergavenny.  The three larger projects are Developments of National Significance to be determined by Welsh Ministers after examination by the Planning Inspectorate.