News - February 2009

February 2009

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TOWN COUNCIL REJECTS SUPERMARKET PLAN
Caldicot Town Council rejected an amended outline planning permission application from Monmouthshire County Council for the supermarket site on the grounds of Caldicot Comprehensive School. Councillors argued that the proposed site would not achieve their primary aim of the regeneration of Caldicot shopping centre. In spite of this decision, the amended proposal will go before MCC’s planning committee for a decision. A shortlist of interested parties has been drawn up. Meanwhile, plans for any new supermarket were condemned by Friends of the Earth.

SHOPMOBILITY SCHEME CLOSES
A lack of volunteers has forced the closure of Caldicot’s shopmobility scheme. The scheme, financed by grants from Monmouthshire County Council, provided scooters and wheelchairs for shoppers in the town. It was based in a cabin in the Jubilee Way car park. Potential volunteers were asked to phone Alan Brown at the One Stop Shop on 01291 426400 or Councillor Tony Easson on 0770 3165095.

COUNCILLOR ARRESTED IN PLANE PROTEST
Caldicot town councillor Anthony Perrett was amongst seven environmental campaigners arrested following a protest at Southampton airport. He was charged with aggravated trespass and bailed to appear before magistrates in Southampton on 3 March.

COUNCIL SPAT OVER “RESIGNATION” STATEMENT
There were noisy scenes at Caldicot Town Council when the chairman, Councillor David Evans, refused to allow Councillor John Marshall to make a statement in a public session to the effect that he was considering resigning from the council.

UNION FLAG FLIES AT COUNCIL OFFICE
Following protracted disputes over funding for a second flagpole, the union flag has finally been raised outside the council offices alongside the Welsh flag. (See September 2008)

HOUSE PRICE WATCH
The cheapest house advertised in the local press for sale in Caldicot at the end of February 2009 was a three bedroom semi-detached property in Betjeman Avenue, “in need of some modernisation”, at £127,950. The most expensive was a “superbly renovated and refurbished barn conversion” with four bedrooms (all en-suite) at the old Church Farm at £525,000 (see July and August 2008).