Traffic congestion at Monmouth’s Dixton Roundabout is expected to get a lot worse, if a new housing development gets the green light claims a pressure group.

Researchers for the Gateway to Wales Action Group claim Monmouth’s motorists could be hit by an extra traffic pinch point if a new housing development goes ahead on the Dixton Road. The planned development could add an extra 10 minutes of queuing traffic to reach the Dixton Roundabout from Monmouth.

Residents are being asked to write to their councillors before a crucial meeting of Monmouthshire County Council to vote on the Replacement Local Development Plan.

The group believe this will be felt most by drivers leaving Monmouth to travel towards Wyesham, heading to Ross on Wye or dropping off children at schools.

The entrance to the candidate site (CS0270) is only 100 metres from the Dixton roundabout, which is a major pinch point for Monmouth. During busy periods there are often long queues around Dixton Roundabout for both traffic heading into Wales on the A40 and also cars leaving Monmouth on the A466 Dixton Road.

They have calculated that 270 households would increase the Motoring population of Monmouth 405 cars and add an additional 362 journeys onto the Dixton Road. This is in addition to the 4,490 vehicles per day already travelling on the Dixton Road.

Based on the average annual mileage, that would create an additional 476 tonnes of the greenhouse gas CO2 per year, as well as increasing the level of air pollution.

The big problem for Monmouth’s motorists is the “merge in turn” unwritten rule where cars already queuing on the Dixton Road will let in cars from the new estate.

“Monmouth's roads are already at their limit – adding so many extra cars to the daily gridlock will only deepen the chaos. It's time for the community to stand together and make their voices heard before our town grinds to a halt" said a spokesperson for the campaign.

The Replacement Local Development Plan will be looking into the provision of housing stock until 2033

A Place Scrutiny meeting tomorrow, Thursday, will look at the plan prior to council endorsement for public consultation