News - May 2006

May 2006

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FIRE SERVICE CUTS CAUSE ALARM
Anger has been expressed at proposals to remove all fulltime fire fighters from Caldicot fire station, leaving the station crewed entirely by part-timers. The proposals, which mean that there will no longer be any fulltime fire fighters in Monmouthshire, were described as “disgraceful” by Councillor James Harris. Nigel Williamson, Fire Brigade Union representative at Caldicot, said the FBU would be seeking a rethink from the fire service.

LAUREN SCOOPS WELSH AWARD
Caldicot A Level student Lauren Matthews has won the prestigious “Welsh Learner of the Year” award at the Urdd Eisteddfod. Lauren, a student at Caldicot Comprehensive School, comes from an entirely English-speaking household and began learning Welsh while at Durand Primary School. She will be studying the language at Lampeter University next year. She thanked, Miss Davies and Mrs Williams, her Welsh teachers at Caldicot Comprehensive School, for their help and support.

CALDICOT BAND SCORES HIT AT RIVERFRONT
Young Caldicot band ‘One String Loose’ won the ‘WhY Factor’ prize at Newport’s Riverfront Arts Centre with their own composition, A Moose in a Pineapple Shop. The band’s brand of Celtic roots music was described as “refreshing” by the judges.

IMPROVED ACCESS
In a joint project with U3A, Monmouthshire County Council has replaced a stile on land near Caldicot Castle with a “kissing gate”, giving easier access to those who find it difficult to climb. The project is part of the “Step Out Caldicot” scheme of short walks aimed at encouraging a healthier life-style.

RAIN FORCES CARNIVAL MOVE
Heavy rainfall during the previous week forced a change of venue for Caldicot Carnival from the castle grounds to the town centre. Nevertheless, large crowds lined the route to watch the carnival procession, led by the Severn Tunnel Band, and the whole event was pronounced a success by the organisers.

LOTTERY GRANT
Caldicot Heartbeat Club, a self-help organisation for survivors of heart attacks, has been awarded a £5000 lottery grant.

POLICEMAN COMMENDED
Caldicot Police Constable Mark Bowen was given a commendation for his work in saving the life of a man who was on the verge of hanging himself from a tree in Wentwood Forest.

FLASHER SOUGHT
Police were hunting a man who exposed himself to two women in the grounds of Caldicot Castle.

PROPERTY WATCH
The cheapest house advertised in the local press for sale in Caldicot at the end of May 2006 was a three-bedroomed semi-detached property in Park Road at £142,000.