Agenda and draft minutes

None received.  

Councillor Penny Jones declared a non-prejudicial interest as an independent member of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.  

A video was shown that had been submitted by a resident in relation to traffic resulting from the restrictions to heavy goods vehicles on the Severn Bridge. This related to item 5 on the agenda. The Chair invited Jonathan Hill form National Highways to comment.  

The National Highways officer acknowledged the videos, explaining they showed the impact of managing freight over the M48 during planned closures of the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge. He noted that, without such management, freight would face a 100-mile diversion. It was clarified that the high proportion of freight seen in the video was due to the M4 closure and is not representative of normal operations; once the medium-term solution is implemented, this will be a managed scenario only during planned closures.) 

Maria Evans and Brendan Chambers delivered a presentation and answered the members’ questions. 

Questions from Members: 

• Councillor Bond asked what socio-economic and health factors contribute to drug-related deaths in the county, and is there commonality? How far back do root causes get investigated, especially regarding childhood trauma and abuse? 

Maria explained that factors include unemployment, unstable housing, parental substance misuse, and deprivation. Substance use occurs across all social classes, with different drugs prevalent in different areas. Prevention campaigns and education are conducted in schools and universities. Mental health issues and childhood trauma (ACEs) are common among substance users, and interventions are trauma-informed. There are challenges in engaging mental health services, and efforts are made to address trauma through specific pathways. 

• Councillor Bond further asked which came first—the chronic conditions or the drug use? Do you work with schools to prevent future cases? 

Maria stated that some use substances to mask mental health issues, which can lead to further problems like drug psychosis. There is a revolving door syndrome between substance use and mental health. Schools are targeted for awareness and education, but the school programs focus on drug effects and legal consequences, not on identifying trauma risk. Drop-in clinics are available for students to discuss drug concerns. 

• Councillor Bond queried how effective has this approach been, and what were the previous numbers compared to this year? 

Maria and Brendan responded that there were 30 drug-related deaths in 2024 and 28 so far in 2025. The highest recorded was 34. In Monmouthshire, there was 1 death in 2024 and 3 in 2025. 

• Councillor Howells asked how much of a problem is nitazine in drug-related deaths? Is it easily identified in autopsies, and how effective is naloxone in combating it? 

Brendan explained nitazine is an emerging trend, more prevalent nationally and especially in Scotland, with a few cases in Gwent. It is usually mixed with heroin or cocaine, making potency unpredictable and overdoses more likely. Identification is improving through forensic providers and universities. Maria added that naloxone works but often requires many more doses for nitazine overdoses compared to heroin, sometimes up to 10 or 11 injections. 

• Councillor Kear asked what is the police team's liaison and approach to prevention regarding drug misuse and related deaths, given trends in drug possession and supply statistics? 

Brendan responded that his involvement is primarily investigative after the fact, not in prevention. Prevention is addressed through partnership meetings and other police units, but he is not directly involved in frontline prevention activities. Tony acknowledged this and suggested he may take the question back to the chief and the Police and Crime Commissioner. 

• Councillor Jones asked why isn't there more public advertising or government initiative to raise awareness about the dangers of drugs like ketamine and synthetic opioids, given how serious and unknown these risks are? Would a stark campaign (e.g., on social media or TV) be effective? 

Maria responded that many harm reduction campaigns are already in place, including multi-agency ketamine action plans, urology pathways,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Alan Feist delivered a presentation and answered the members’ questions with Jonathan Hill. 

Questions from Members: 

• Councillor Bond commented that local members could form a helpful part of the stakeholder steering group to improve information flow and allay fears. She asked what the impact and risk assessment is for disruption on the Chepstow side due to the proposed HGV metering solution? How often will significant issues occur, and what is the worst-case scenario? 

The project team explained that modelling is tiered (strategic, cordoned, and detailed visual models) and ongoing. The worst-case scenario is a peak hour eastbound ban on HGVs (e.g., 7:00–10:00 AM), which would prevent additional congestion. Best case, the ban could be shorter or not needed. The team does not plan to rebuild the roundabout or A466 at this stage. 

• Councillor Bond questioned if HGVs are banned during peak hours, will they stack up on the slip road and roundabout, affecting car traffic? 

• The team responded that the signing strategy will be designed to prevent HGVs from reaching Chepstow during the ban, diverting them via the Prince of Wales Bridge. Signs will be triggered early enough to avoid stacking. 

• Councillor Howells asked whether there has there been any progress on opening the M49 junction at the Avonmouth/Severn side, and could the opening date be brought forward? What effect would opening this junction have on M48 bridge traffic? 

The project team confirmed the M49 junction (Junction 1) is scheduled to open in late summer next year. Its opening will allow haulage units from Avonmouth to access the M4 and Prince of Wales Bridge directly, reducing their need to use the M48 via Aust. The team expects this will provide additional network resilience, though the exact proportion of traffic shifting routes will be determined through further modelling. They noted that bringing the opening date forward is unlikely, as six months is a short timeframe for such a civil engineering project. 

• Councillor Rooke asked whether economic impact assessments have been done for the area, especially considering the serious impact when both bridges were closed? 

National Highways stated that no economic assessment was required for the safety-driven HGV removal decision, so none was done. However, a cost-benefit and value-for-money analysis will be required for the medium-term solution, and the long-term business case will include socio-economic impacts, such as effects on employment and growth. 

• Councillor Rooke asked what can be done in exceptional circumstances when both bridges are closed to prevent complete shutdown of local infrastructure and business? 

The team is conducting a full debrief of the recent event and response. The main mitigation is to ensure non-essential journeys are avoided so essential ones can proceed. Messaging and communication are key, and lessons will be learned from the recent closure. 

• Councillor Taylor asked when there will be signalisation at the Magor Junction 23 interchange, and what improvements are planned for signage during adverse incidents? 

National Highways meets regularly with Monmouthshire County Council, Sutra, and Welsh Government. A proposed signalisation solution for Magor Roundabout  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The work programme was noted.  

Noted.  

The minutes of the 28^th October 2025 were agreed as a true and accurate record of the meeting.  

Action List: