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Monmouth asked for ideas to improve the gateway to the town

Council officers are asking people in Monmouth to submit their ideas on how the space between the old and new Monnow bridges could be improved.

Monmouthshire County Council is looking for design concepts and creative suggestions for the location in Monmouth.  This is part of ‘Gateway Monmouth' which is a scheme that plans to improve the bottom end of Monmouth, often the first part of the town that visitors see.

Bob Greenland, Cabinet Member for regeneration, said:

Monmouth RFC - Monmouth Cup run bowls along

Monmouth moved to within three games of a Millennium Stadium final in the Swalec Bowl by beating Bala away 9-13 last Saturday although it was a close run thing in the end for the 14 men left defending against a determined home team.

In the changing room there had been talk of the need for early impact despite the 4hour bus ride into northern parts and within two minutes the team combined to provide it by driving upfield and even though left wing Baker was initially denied,  the pack showed the dominance they were to maintain throughout the game to present scrum half Matt King with good ball to set off a three-quarter move. Centre Layne spectacularly broke the defensive line in the first of many cameo events which were to earn him ‘man of the match', to find Baker on his right shoulder to complete one of the best tries of this season to date. Full back Dave Brace added the conversion for this impressive  0-7 start.

MCC praised for providing good value for money by government watchdog

Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) has been praised by the Wales Audit Office for the way that it uses its resources and achieves value for money in service delivery.

The audit letter recognises good performance in many areas with some notable examples being:

• Commitment to putting residents first.

• MCC is becoming more effective in scrutinising policies and is challenging Cabinet through more focused work programmes.

• MCC's Youth Offending Team is performing well with good quality work by committed staff.

• MCC is improving its services and responds well to recommendations for further improvement.

• MCC's Medium Term Financial Plan has improved the ability to allocate appropriate financial resources across services.

Peter Fox, Leader of the Council, said:

A deafening silence - children and young people with diabetes feel they are being ignored

Children and teenagers with diabetes in Wales are at risk of serious health complications because they feel healthcare professionals and schools don't listen to their needs, a Diabetes UK report reveals today¹.

Young people living with the condition in Wales often feel disenfranchised and believe that healthcare professionals and schools don't help them to control their diabetes.

Diabetes UK Cymru is now calling for improved provision of and access to educational and psychological support for children and young people with diabetes.

More than 1,300 children and young people have Type 1 diabetes in Wales and 25 more children have Type 2 diabetes.

MP WELCOMES INTRODUCTION OF BOILER SCRAPPAGE SCHEME IN WALES

MONMOUTH MP David Davies has welcomed the news that the Welsh Assembly Government is considering introducing its own boiler scrappage scheme.

Mr Davies received written confirmation this week from the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing that officials are currently working up a series of proposals with a view to making a final announcement shortly.

Speaking from his office in Usk, Mr Davies said: "I have been inundated with letters and emails from angry constituents who felt let down that the much publicised boiler scrappage scheme, which the Chancellor announced in his pre-Budget report, would only apply to households in England.

ELVIS THROUGH THE DECADES

Yes, Elvis will definitely be in the Blake Theatre's building, appearing ‘live' on stage at this tribute concert on Saturday 6^th February, 7.30pm.  Presented by PBB Promotions, ‘Elvis Through the Decades' is rated as one of the finest Elvis Presley tributes in the business. 

The show is an unmissable celebration of Elvis Presley's musical career spanning the decades from the 1950's Rock ‘n' Roll, his movies, his ‘68 comeback special and the unforgettable Las Vegas Years.

The show features four young men each performing a different era in the life of ‘The King' who will strut his stuff in this showcase event and will be supported by the number one backing band in Europe ‘Red Alert'.

All tickets are £17 and are available from The Blake Theatre, Monmouth, Tel:  01600 719401 or www.theblaketheatre.org

Gibraltar Care Village Makes Healthcare Award Finals

Gibraltar Care Village, Monmouth, has reached the finals of a prestigious industry awards scheme designed to recognise excellence in healthcare architecture and design.

Being chosen as a finalist in the Pinders Healthcare Design Awards means that the home has been recognised as one of the top three Care Village developments in the UK - in only its first year of opening.

DEEP FREEZE HEATS UP CALLS TO ENERGY HELPLINE

MONMOUTH MP David Davies is encouraging households that are concerned about keeping warm this winter to take advantage of a free-phone energy helpline.

The Home Heat Helpline (0800 33 66 99), based in Glasgow, was set up to tackle fuel poverty by helping people access the information and services they need to manage their fuel bills and reduce their energy consumption. Aimed primarily at older people, families with young children and those with disabilities, the Home Heat Helpline is a free-phone number providing vulnerable customers with direct access to free insulation and reduced or ‘social tariffs' from their energy supplier.

New research recently published by the Helpline revealed that around 3,600 households across Monmouthshire are missing out on savings of up to £250 each year on their energy bills. It also indicated that householders could save around £150 a year on their heating bills by insulating their lofts and a further £115 a year with cavity wall insulation.

Council staff try extreme sports

Staff in Monmouthshire County Council's tourism team tried extreme sports and activities like paddleboarding, paragliding and pony trekking to promote the latest tourism guide for Monmouthshire and Newport.

The guide is produced by Monmouthshire's tourism section with support from Newport City Council, and the Wye Valley & Vale of Usk visitor guide is the main source of printed information for visitors, providing up-to-date details of what's happening and where to stay in the area.

Taking an innovative approach to destination marketing has long been important to the Wye Valley & Vale of Usk team and this year is no exception, as Mark Jones, Tourism Marketing Officer at Monmouthshire County Council, explained: