News - July 2007

July 2007

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MILITARY CROSS FOR MARINE
Sergeant Jason Layton, a former pupil of Caldicot Comprehensive School, has been awarded the Military Cross for his bravery and leadership in Afghanistan. The 37 year-old marine was a member of a force of 100 British soldiers who spent 15 days defending a strategic tower in the town of Sangin from an attack by 400 Taleban fighters.

TEACHER STRUCK OFF
Teacher Ben Warner has been banned from teaching for five ears after being struck off the teaching register by the General Teaching Council. The ban follows a series of incidents at Sandy Lane Infants School in which Mr Warner is alleged to have hit a child, dragged a boy across the school hall by his clothing, and locked three children in a cupboard.

CALDICOT PHOTOGRAPHER WINS WELSH AWARD
Nick House of Wye Valley Studios has been declared Welsh Master Landscape and Travel Photographer of the Year.

CAMPAIGN FAILS TO SAVE FRANCESCA’S
Monmouthshire County Council has given planning permission for an amended scheme to demolish Francesca’s Restaurant to make way for sheltered housing. The decision was taken in spite of opposition from a group of local residents and the town council. The new complex will contain 37 flats and 12 parking spaces.

PARK TO BE UPGRADED
Plans are underway for the refurbishment of the park in Longfellow Road and for the renovation of its football pitch. £30,000 worth of funding has been secured by the Longfellow Road Park Action Group.

PROPOSAL TO CLOSE SCHOOL KITCHEN
Monmouthshire County Council is discussing proposals to close the kitchen at West End School and to have meals sent in from other schools. Headteacher Gareth Keeble denied suggestions that this was a first step towards closing the school altogether.

HOUSE PRICE WATCH
The cheapest property advertised in the local press for sale in Caldicot at the end of July 2007 was a two-bedroom flat in Oakley Way at £99,950. The cheapest house was a three-bedroom mid-terrace in Moorland View at £132,500. The most expensive property was still Court House, which has seven bedrooms, at £495,000 (see June 2007).