Author: James Anderson

Agenda March 2022

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I hereby give notice that the next meeting of the Community Council will be held in Mathern Village Hall on 14th March 2022 at 7 pm. The business to be transacted is as set out in the agenda below. Members of the public are invited to address the council between 7 pm and 7.15 pm. Please contact the Clerk if you wish to attend remotely.

MATHERN COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Clerk: JANE KELLEY, 3 PARKLANDS, MATHERN, CHEPSTOW, MONMOUTHSHIRE. NP16 6JLTelephone  01291 621031 

Clerk to the Council: Mrs Jane Kelley 

AGENDA

81/21 PROCEDURAL ITEMS:

(i) Public Comment – Request in correspondence 15th February 2022
(ii) To receive monthly police report –
(iii) Apologies
(iv) Declarations of Personal or Pecuniary interest
(v) Minutes of previous meeting

82/21 Finance –

A) Monthly Bank Reconciliation authorisation December
B) Grant Applications – Final for 2021/22 – None received as at 8 3 2022
C) Review spending to budget 2021/22
D) Annual Risk Assessments.
E) Annual Pay review back dated April 2021 – S C P 22 –

Receipts February/March
None
Payments
21 02 2022 HSBC CHARGES £5.00
28 02 2022 Salary £655.51 BACS
28 02 2022 Payee/NI £175.18 BACS
06 03 2022 Smart pensions £119.98 DD
06 03 2022 Stock It Ltd £56.40 BACS
06 03 2022 Merlin Waste £71.50 BACS

83/21 PROGRESS REPORT ON ACTIONS FROM LAST MEETING

Responses to queries raised at previous meetings

a) Drain clearance Pwllmeyric Village.
b) Update Speed Watch – Mathern Village – pending 20 mph speed reduction
c) Update Walks Leaflets
d) Culvert cleaning – Rear of Birdwood Gardens/small sweeper up this lane to Rose Cottage.

84/21 HIGHWAYS/FOOTPATHS

Footpaths project – C Wheeler
Any update sign cleaning frequency MCC
Any update damaged road/hedges Mounton Village – Traphill Road.
Any update potholes Mounton Village
Any update hedges near Box Tree Cottage obstructing pavement

85/21 COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS/CLERKS REPORT

a) O V W. Rota Next Meeting
b) Defibrillator – Monthly Checking’s –
c) County Cllrs Report

86/21 PLANNING APPLICATIONS – Plus any applications received after Agenda is issued.

New applications –

DM/2022/00321 Planning permission PWLLMEYRIC Petrol Station single storey extension to existing forecourt and shop building

DM/2022/00263 – Planning permission – Rhewl Cottage – Extension and change of use of existing garage into dog day care facility.  Change of use of field to dog walking paddock.

Decisions and Appeals – None

Enforcement –

Palace Farm Track DM/2020/01724 – Non compliant construction

Copy Documents 01/02/2022 – Land at Wye Valley Archery

87/21 CORRESPONDENCE AND FORTHCOMING MEETINGS

E-Mails
08 02 22 Invoice Viking
08 02 22 Update footpaths issues C Wheeler
10 02 22 Completion of Annual Audit Wales Audit Office
15 02 22 Request for plaque to be placed on bench on Village Green in memory of R Lewis
16 02 22 Invoice mowing of grass Mounton Village
15 02 22 Smart pension receipt of February pension amounts
15 02 22 Welsh Government details apprentice scheme
15 02 22 CC Brown update on LDP Candidate sites
17 02 22 MCC re blocked culverts behind Birdwood Gardens
17 02 22 Resident copy of letter re 2nd LDP candidate sites.
18 02 22 MCC Update on Palace Farm Track and Wye Valley Archery enforcements
21 02 22 Response to consultation on Traffic Order response received 22 02 22
21 02 22 TTRO consultation
21 02 22 Invoice Merlin Waste
22 02 22 Election Papers from MCC
22 02 22 Planning DM/0200/00263
23 02 22 Copy correspondence Cll L Brown to Welsh Government traffic management Larkfield roundabout
23 02 22 Email J Anderson advise drains being cleared.
24 02 22 Welsh IRPW Report
24 02 22 OVW questionnaire
25 02 22 Information Pwllmeyric toads crossing
25 02 22 MCC Planning DM/2022/00321
25 02 22 OVW membership due April 2022
28 02 22 M Sidwell – Calvert Cleared Birdwood Gardens
28 02 22 C Jones Place Practitioner – drop in sessions – Chepstow 12 03 2022
28 02 22 Reminder to Cllrs Opt in Out Cllr allowance forms
28 02 22 MCC Planning DM/2022/00321
01 03 22 Stock It Invoice
01 03 22 Merlin Invoice
02 03 22 Rialtas Update License
03 03 22 Welsh Government Receipt of our correspondence re Larkfield roundabout
03 03 22 MCC enforcement list
04 03 22 OVW Clerk Pay Award
06 03 22 Freedom of information request – British Muslim

88/21    OTHER MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION

  1.  Community Resilience – Climate Emergency
  2.  Items for Website – Cllr J Anderson
  3.  Jubilee celebrations update – Cllr M Sidwell

89/21  PROJECTS AWAITING COMPLETION

Archive to Ebbw Vale. – Old School Records

90/21 DATE OF NEXT MEETING:

Next meeting Village Hall 11th April 2022

 

Chepstow High Street Consultation

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Article last updated: 

On Wednesday 16th February 2022 a survey was launched seeking views on how residents, business and visitors currently use and would like to use Chepstow High Street and the surrounding shopping area.  High Street in Chepstow has been closed to vehicles since March 2020 other than for access to the disabled parking bays on Bank Street and for deliveries between 4pm and 10am.  This change was made to enable shoppers to socially distance, to support outdoor trading and to support walking and cycling. There have been wide ranging opinions on this closure, so now as the council is considering longer term options as part of the Chepstow Placemaking Plan and Active Travel proposals, it would like to gather the up-to-date feedback from as many people as possible in order to shape future plans.

No decision has been taken on the future of High Street yet. There are potentially many options including fully opening up High Street to two-way traffic 24/7, two-way traffic at restricted times, one-way traffic, restricted access or full pedestrianisation.  Each option will have advantages and disadvantages which need to be fully considered. Options will require traffic modelling to assess the impact of any changes on the wider road network and this will be undertaken by traffic consultants Arup as part of their study focusing on Active Travel across Chepstow.

Monmouthshire County Council and Chepstow Town Council have commissioned the preparation of a plan with consultants Arup and Chris Jones to look at regeneration improvements across the town not just the town centre.  The results of this survey will form part of the options appraisal and design development for the High Street.

The survey closes at noon on 15th March 2022 – click HERE to take part.

20MPH SPEED LIMIT IN MATHERN

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County Councillor Brown advised:

20MPH SPEED LIMIT IN MATHERN

As reported in the County Councillor report for last month, the MCC press release indicated that the 21 day consultation for the traffic order for the speed limit would commence in early February 2022. The consultation ends on the 23rd of February.

The link below shows the amendment order 2 which covers Mathern with the street maps:

https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/amendment-order-no-2-2022/

The link below is where comments can be made for consideration by highways:

https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/public-consultation-traffic/

Replacement Local Development Plan (RLDP) Update

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Public consultation is not open on these 2nd stage candidate sites however we will report once it is.

Monmouthshire Replacement Local Development Plan 2018-2033 Replacement Local Development Plan Update and Second Call for Candidate Sites Register

I am writing to update you on the current position with the preparation of the Monmouthshire Replacement Local Development Plan and to notify you of the publication of the Second Call for Candidate Sites Register.

Replacement Local Development Plan (RLDP) Update

Consultation on the RLDP Preferred Strategy took place in July and August 2021. Since that time, the Council has been considering the consultation responses received, in particular the Welsh Government’s Planning Division response which raised some significant concerns regarding the proposed level of growth and the Strategy’s ‘general conformity’ with policies 1 and 33 of the Future Wales: the National Plan 2040.On 14th December 2021, officers took a report to a special meeting of the Council’s Economy and Development Select Committee to invite Members to consider the implications of the Welsh Government Planning Division’s proposed prescribed maximum growth level on Monmouthshire’s communities and on addressing the locally evidence-based outcomes and objectives. The Planning Policy team is continuing to liaise with Welsh Government officials regarding these concerns and over the coming months will be considering options for progressing the RLDP. These discussions, together with feedback from the Select Committee meeting, including input to that meeting from stakeholders and interested parties via the public forum, will help inform the Council on how it proceeds. A future report to Council in late Summer 2022 will present options for progressing the RLDP and will seek a Council decision on how to proceed.

Second Call for Candidate Sites Register

The Council has compiled a register of candidate sites that were submitted during the Second Call for Candidate Sites which took place alongside the Preferred Strategy consultation in July – August 2021. The Candidate Sites Register is available to view on our website. A paper copy is also available to view at County Hall, Usk, subject to Covid-19 restrictions*. Please note that the Register is for information purposes only and comments on the candidate sites will not be accepted at this stage. There will be an opportunity to comment on the Candidate Sites Register, and associated site assessments, at a later stage in the RLDP process.If you have any queries regarding the above, please contact the Planning Policy Team:

Link to first call candidate sites listed under Shirenewton on the MCC website.
https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/…/Shirenewton-Ward-1.pdfLink to first stage sites, noted under Chepstow on the MCC website.
https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/…/2019/02/Chepstow-1.pdf

OBJECTION TO CLOSURE

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Silverstone,
Newton Green,
Mathern,
CHEPSTOW,
GWENT

To
M. J. Perry Esq,
Chief Executive Officer,
Gwent County Council,
County Hall,
CWMBRAN Gwent.
Ref: AJ/4/86


And to


The Secretary of State,
The Welsh Office,
Cathays Park,

——————————————————————————————————————–Dear Sir,

Section12 (3) Education. Act 1980

We the undersigned local government electors wish to object to the proposed closure of Mathern County Primary School and the Establishment of a new school in Welsh Street Chepstow on the following grounds:

Pages: 1 2 3

THE MEMORIALS IN OUR THREE PARISHES

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THE COMMUNITY WAR MEMORIAL

In 1917 the Mathern War Charity was set up.  Public subscriptions and fund raising events enabled the sending of parcels to Mathern servicemen including prisoners of war.  When finally they returned a Welcome Home event and dinner were held.  Presents were also provided.  The committee then decided to devote the residue of funds towards construction of the Village Memorial Cross.  The site – the corner of a field – was given by Mr A T Lewis who had recently inherited the St Pierre estate.  The eventual cost was £290 with the railings added as an afterthought from a £9 surplus in the fund.

The actual Memorial was a result of the well established collaboration between Messrs Francis and Tipping.  Eric Francis was a Chepstow architect who had served in the trenches as a member of the Artists’ Rifles.  H Avray Tipping was a landscape designer of national repute who had come to live locally.  Their most obvious project locally had been Mounton House, 1911-14 – see the glowing report in the recently published “Buildings of Wales” series.  Construction was by Davis Bros of Brabourne, Worcester, the base being of Bramley Fall stone and the cross of Hollington stone.  It was dedicated on Whit Sunday 1920 by Archdeacon Green, who later became Archbishop of Wales.

Mathern War Charity having been wound up, maintenance was rather informal until after WW II when it was placed in the care of the Parish Council, now Mathern Community Council.

MEMORIALS IN THE THREE CHURCHES

Separate Memorial Boards were set up in the parish churches of Mathern and St Pierre.  Both boards listed those who served but survived as well as those who died.  At Mounton a single plaque was installed for their one lost serviceman of WW I.  Mounton also lost a single man in WW II and the family provided an altar screen in his memory.

MATHERN

The names of the dead are listed on a beautifully embossed Roll of Honour made of lead.  Their surviving fellow servicemen are inscribed on either side.  It is quite a masterpiece.

The individual memorial of Captain Stanton is to be found at the back of the nave

ST PIERRE

 

The St Pierre memorial is obviously more humble than the corresponding one at Mathern but very dignified and appropriate to the scale of this small and ancient church.

MOUNTON

The attractive plaque in memory of Ernest Prickett includes a green dragon which unfortunately does not show clearly in our photograph in section 18.

The very tasteful altar screen in memory of Ian Liddell includes these words of his mother which seem entirely fitting to his sparkling personality:

“Into the mosaic of victory I place this precious jewel – my son.”

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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General advice and assistance:

South Wales Borderers Museum

Newport Reference Library

Ann Rainsbury, Chepstow Museum

Military records: Gareth Jones

Photographs: John Florida and John Nettleship

Ray Westlake – recent book about War Memorials in Gwent

Cover: Nita Fenton, Caldicot

  • logo  John Florida/Mary Alport
  • Mrs Sylvia Grant
  • Mr George Bryant
  •  
  • Mr Bruce Gibson
  • Mr Walter Gill
  •  
  • Dr Jennifer Brown, Mrs Peggy Mullins
  •  
  •  
  •  Mrs D Merrifield, Chesterfield
  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Peter Strong, Caldicot School
  • Mrs Mabel Hudson, Caerwent
  • Mr Horace Cook
  • Chepstow Museum
  • Chepstow Museum, painting by permission of the Regimental Lieutenant Colonel, Coldstream Guards
  •  
  • Mrs Sylvia King
  • Mrs Sylvia King
  • The Buildings of Wales: Gwent/Monmouthshire (Penguin Books 2000)
  • Lt Col A R Evill
  • Dr Jennifer Brown
  • HMSO

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GEORGE PRICE

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George Phillip Price, L/Cpl G69573 1st Bn Queen’s Royal – West Surrey Regiment
Killed in action on the 21 September 1918                                     AGE: 21

George was the son of John and Hannah Price of Parkwall Lodge.  John worked for Squire Lewis of St Pierre and George was born at the Lodge.  He enlisted in Chepstow (there is a suggestion that he may have enlisted under-age) and was later married in Grimsby.  The wedding photograph shows two stripes on his left sleeve – these appear to be “wound stripes” indicating that he had already served at the Front and been wounded twice.

He was originally in the Manchester Regiment Pte 54889 and later transferred to the West Surrey.  His name is on the vis-en-artois Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.  He is also remembered by an inscription on the gravestone of his parents in St Pierre Churchyard.

It seems likely that George was killed soon after he got married

A nephew is currently resident in Portskewett and a niece, formerly of Hayes Gate, now lives in Chesterfield.

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WYNDHAM HUGGETT

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Wyndham Henry Huggett – 2nd Lt. South Wales Borders 4th Battalion
Killed in action in France on 24th April 1916                                 AGE: 25

He was the son of John and Elizabeth Huggett who farmed at Ifton Hill House, Portskewett.  The family is still represented there today by Dr Jennifer Brown.  Some of the military records refer to him as William Wyndham, for no known reason.  The Huggett’s had strong connections with Magor and a stained glass window in his memory is in Magor Church.  The Inscription reads as follows:

Well done thou good and faithful servant – Dedicated to God by John and Elizabeth Huggett to the memory of their son Lt. Wyndham Henry Huggett South Wales Borderers killed in action in France 1916

2nd Lt Huggett is buried in La Gorgue Communal Cemetery, France, grave reference II.A.14. It seems that Wyndham was sorely missed – many Death Plaques seldom saw the light of day but Wyndham’s, shown in section 27, was fitted with a prop to make it stand and polished with such dedication that his name is almost worn away.  A brother also served in the Army but fortunately came home safely.

Tinted photograph of the family home at around the time of the First World War

WYNDHAM HUGGETT – stained glass window in Magor Parish Church

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WILLIAM WATKINS

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William Victor Watkins Gunner 1721607 183 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery
Died 15th September 1944

Bill was a son of Herbert and Maud Watkins of Itton.  He lived at ‘Stonycroft’, Bayfield with his wife Florence and their three children.  He is remembered as a warm family man typical of Monmouthshire.

Bill joined the Royal Artillery in November 1940 and served in Gibraltar, Malta and North Africa.  He was injured and sent to the apparent safety of a Military Hospital at Folkestone.  Unfortunately this was within range of the German heavy artillery – they were firing shells straight across the English Channel – and William was injured and died later in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Folkstone.

Bill was 35 years of age and was buried back home in Mounton Churchyard.  Florence and the children moved in with her sister down at ‘The Glen’, Mounton, for a time and later moved back up to Bayfield.

Bill Watkins marries Florence King

 

 

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