DEREK’S BODY FOUND
The body of Caldicot archaeologist Derek Upton was found at the edge of the River Severn near Rogiet. He had been missing for several weeks after disappearing with a shotgun. Police are not treating the death as suspicious. It is believed that Mr Upton, aged 64, had been depressed following problems in his private life. Mr Upton was a well known figure in the archaeological community and a leading member of the Gwent Wildlife Trust. His many archaeological finds included a prehistoric trackway in the River Severn, which was named to Upton Trackway in his honour.

CALDICOT SCHOOL TO PILOT NEW BUS SCHEME
Caldicot Comprehensive School as been selected by Monmouthshire County Council for a pilot scheme to improve school transport. Subject to budget, it is planned that the school will have brand new purpose-built buses from September. The buses will be owned by MCC and will replace the contract buses.

COUNCILLORS COMPLAIN THAT CALDICOT GETS RAW DEAL
County councillors from Caldicot have complained that a “Roadshow” led by Colin Berg, Chief executive of Monmouthshire County Council, will not be visiting Caldicot. Councillors James Harris and Jim Higginson both cited this as another example of Caldicot being overlooked in comparison to other towns in Monmouthshire. Mr Berg refuted the claims stating that the Roadshow meetings were meetings for staff, not for the public and that the meeting places had been chosen in order to be within easy travelling distance.

BEHAVIOUR TARGETED BY ACTION TEAM
The Severnside Community Safety Action Team has identified two areas of Caldicot - the town centre and the country park - as key targets in a plan to deal with anti-social behaviour. It is claimed that youths meeting in the castle grounds have been taking drugs and have been responsible for damage to the castle grounds and drawbridge. Monmouthshire County Council has plans to install new barriers restricting vehicle access to parts of the park. Incidents of fighting, underage drinking and intimidation in the town centre have led police to look at how they can make more effective use of the town’s CCTV system.

HOUSING SCHEME CRITICISED
County councillor Ron Stewart has criticised Monmouthshire County Council’s plan to allow 150 houses to be built at Church Road, Caldicot. He also complained about the lack of “affordable” houses included in the previous housing development in Church Road, stating that, when the 350 houses were built, 20 “affordable” houses had been promised but only six built. With 200 people on the housing waiting list in Caldicot, more affordable housing was needed. He further stated that the new developments were causing pollution in the Neddern Brook.

<< October 2005
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