CHEPSTOW Town Council's planning committee has recommended refusal for a new pub restaurant to be built on the site of the Chepstow Hotel.

The 31-bed hotel closed at the end of December.

New owner Marstons, bought the site on Newport Road, with the aim of demolishing the building to make way for a new pub restaurant. But councillors on the town council's planning committee expressed concerns that the development could further impact on the already unresolved pollution issue on Hardwick Hill, and that residents living nearby would be subjected to unacceptable noise disturbance.

One neighbour submitted an objection letter citing that the increase in traffic volume would be detrimental to both car users and pedestrians.

Another factor that was highlighted by members of the town council was the loss of bed-space following the closure of the hotel - leaving Chepstow with only 59 bed spaces to accommodate visitors to the town. Chepstow Cllr Jacqui Sullivan has long argued that Chepstow has insufficient accommodation and the loss of the hotel is yet another blow to the town's tourism appeal. She said: "We desperately need more hotel accommodation in Chepstow. We have the racecourse here and most of the people who come to visit have to stay in other areas such as the Hilton in Magor. "This means that visitors are going to eat and drink elsewhere and this does nothing to help boost the local economy."

Monmouthshire county council will make the final decision on the plan.