THE Freedom of the Town will be granted to soldiers from 1 Rifles on April 9 if town councillors approve the plans at this evening's Town Council meeting.

Chepstow Town Mayor, Cllr Marian Lewis, has proposed the date of April 9 for the granting ceremony and November 17 for the Homecoming Parade, when the soldiers return from a tour of duty in Afganistan.

The plans include road closures to accommodate for a ceremony in Chepstow Castle at 5.15pm, followed by a march through the town at approximately 6.15pm.

The controversial plans were first discussed in November when Cllr Lewis and Town Clerk, Sandra Bushell, advised the meeting that the cost of the event would be minimal and gave an estimated cost of £2,500. The clerk later told reporters that the regiment and local businesses would help meet the cost. This, however, has yet to be confirmed and the council now estimates the provisional cost as £4,500.

Cllr Phylip Hobson, who controls the town council budget recently expressed his concerns, saying: "There is no budget for this and I would like to know where the money is coming from?"

The town council has admitted there is no provision for the costs in either this or next year's financial year's budget. Some in the town are critical of the proposals on the grounds that there has been little public consultation and also because Beachley Barracks is not in Wales.

Cllr Hilary Beach said it was nothing to do with being unpatriotic, but that it was inexplicable for a Welsh county to grant the freedom to regiment that are not based in the country. She said: "It makes no sense to grant the Freedom of the Town to a regiment based in England."

Ian Meyric, owner of the Coach and Horses, said: "I can fully support granting the Royal Welsh Regiment the honour - Welsh town, Welsh regiment. It's not prejudice, but Beachley Barracks is in England - the soldiers don't even live in the country."

And he added his fear that the plans were being rushed through.

He said: "We have a wedding here that day and there will be around 70 people going from the register office at 3.30pm, then into the town for photos, and then coming here for the reception. How is that supposed to happen if the roads close? There are a number of weddings that day in Chepstow - people book months, years in advance - this will be devastating for them."

Cllr Lewis said: "I am keen to move this forward as quickly as possible because the Regiment goes back to Afghanistan very shortly, and I believe it would be appropriate for the town to demonstrate its support in some tangible way before they leave."