Despite safety concerns raised by local AM Nick Ramsay, the Welsh Government this week said it was unlikely to heed calls for a new bridge in Llanellen.

The Conservative AM wrote to the Welsh transport minister, Ken Skates, where he passed on his constituents’ long-running concerns that the old bridge was ’no longer suited’ to the current flow of traffic.

The hump-backed bridge on the A4042 is too narrow to allow larger vehicles to pass side-by-side, meaning as drivers approach the bridge, they are warned to expect oncoming traffic in the middle of the road.

Mr Ramsay pointed to a number of accidents on the bridge, and occasional heavy flooding in the village, prompting him to ask the Welsh Government to give priority to a new bridge in Llanellen.

Responding this week, Mr Skates said in a letter that ’replacement of the existing bridge is not considered a feasible option, as it is a Grade II-listed structure.’

The transport minister also said providing a new bridge was unfeasible ’due to the need to acquire land and properties and concerns that it may affect the visual footprint of the existing bridge.’

He added that Welsh Government had discussed previously, with heritage organisation CADW and Monmouthshire County Council, about modifying the bridge, but had been advised that such work would not be supported by those organisations because of the bridge’s listed and special-interest status.

The Welsh Government defended its decision, underlining that there had been no injuries or collisions recorded on the bridge in the past five years.

Reacting to the minister’s comment, Mr Ramsay said, "Clearly the Welsh Government does not have details of accidents occurring at the bridge this year, and which concerned constituents have reported to me.

"The fact remains that this picturesque old bridge is no longer suited to current levels of traffic and the size of vehicles on the road today.

"It’s a shame that we may well have to wait for a really serious accident at this location before any improvements are considered further."

Mr Skates, stated in his reply, "Replacement of the existing bridge is not considered a feasible option, as it is a Grade II-listed structure. "Providing a new bridge in close proximity is also deemed unfeasible due to the need to acquire land and properties."

He added that other concerns centred upon any ’affect’ of the ’visual footprint of the existing bridge.’

"As part of previous work, officials discussed with CADW and Monmouthshire County Council what changes could be made to the bridge and were advised that being listed and having special interest as an elegant structure, they would not support any direct replacement or major modifications such as widening or easing of the hump at the centre of the bridge.

"The Welsh Government routinely monitor the motorway and trunk road network for locations with a record of personal injury collisions recorded by the police to identify the need for road safety improvements.

He continued, "There have been no personal injury collisions recorded on the bridge at Llanellen in the last five years to end of December 2018.

"We await details of the collision referenced by your constituent from the police to be considered in this process."

Mr Ramsay was, last Summer, given an assurance by the Minister that a plan would be designed and work progressed before the end of that financial year.

Back last Summer, he said, "This issue continues to drag on and on despite an assurance that work would by now be under way. Local residents have been writing to me for years complaining about lack of progress."