FLASH FLOOD HITS BUSINESSES
Several Caldicot businesses were forced to close as violent thunderstorms hit the town. Some shops were said to be under three feet of water. Washbourne’s Home Hardware was turned into “a lake” and stock damaged. Damage to computers at Caldicot Post Office meant that pensions and other payments could not be made for several days.

SEARCH CONTINUES FOR CALDICOT GOLFER
22 months after his disappearance on a golfing holiday in Tenby, the family of James Nutley are still desperately trying to find him. They recently viewed CCTV tapes which showed him leaving a pub and again at a point within yards of his hotel. James’ parents have offered a reward of £5000 for information and a website, www.findjamesnutley.com, has been set up. Police are manning a hotline for information on 0845 3302000.

PLAN TO DEMOLISH FRANCESCA’S
Caldicot town council has objected to plans to replace Francesca’s restaurant in Newport Road with 33 retirement flats. Councillors oppose the demolition of one of Caldicot’s older buildings. A petition has been organised by Zoe Heslop, who stated, “It’s a lovely old building and there aren’t many like it in Caldicot.”

PLUG PULLED ON CALDICOT BAND
Organisers of Caldicot Youth Festival halted the performance of local band Ectopazz after a member of the band used foul language and created an allegedly unsafe situation by inviting the crowd to join them on stage. The festival had featured eleven local bands, including One String Loose, who had just returned from performing in Italy. Ectopazz, who claim to play “groove, heaviness, thrash, doom and rednecks”, responded by organising “an alternative festival” to coincide with the town’s official festival.

WELSH LANGUAGE PARENTS ANGRY
A group of parents of children from Ysgol y Ffin, the Welsh School currently based at Sudbrook, has criticised Monmouthshire County Council’s proposals to transfer the school to the site of Sandy Lane Infants’ School. RhAG De Fynwy argue that the Sandy Lane buildings will not allow the expansion of the school beyond 210 pupils. Group Chairman Guy Farrish said, “A move away from the current building is an urgent necessity but that does not mean we have to accept a solution whose main asset is that it is convenient for the county council.”

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PARENTS ANGRY
Parents are continuing to campaign against plans to close West End and Sandy Lane infants’ schools. West End pupils are due to be transferred to a new school at Green Lane between 2010 and 2012, while Sandy Lane pupils are due to go to St Mary’s from September 2008. A petition with over 1100 signatures has been sent to the Welsh Assembly Government. Monmouthshire County Council argue that the closures are necessary because there are 257 surplus places in Caldicot’s primary schools.

PLAYSCHEME PARENTS ANGRY
Parents have complained about the high cost of sending their children to Monmouthshire County Council’s summer play scheme at Caldicot Leisure Centre. While children from Caldicot benefit from a town council subsidy, allowing each child to attend for £4 a day, those from outside Caldicot had to pay £8 a day.

NEW MAYOR
Joanne Daniels has been inaugurated as mayor of Caldicot.

<< July 2006
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