Monmouth's own Shopper Blog

Well here we are, two weeks into the stupendous news about the £3.1m funding towards the Shire Hall restoration, and that dreaded boarding, surrounding the builder's compound has yet to appear.  What was all the fuss about we wonder?

We understand that it should now be going up during the next four weeks, it will be 2.4m high, it will go all around the square but leave the Rolls statue proudly outside the compound, ready to celebrate the Rolls centenary.   Let's hope it doesn't get damaged now that it is not going to box protected.

The replica Victorian post box is going to be decommissioned during the contract and the box [which is a very distinguished replica with it own interesting history] will be protected within the compound.  The postmaster is clear that Monmouth is over supplied with the regulation boxes in the area, and so is confident that this won't cause too many problems.

As somebody who has been involved in the project for the last five years, suffering the highs and lows of any project like this, one of the most interesting things has been how people far and wide whose work or lives have touched this project are joining us in our celebrations. Tony Crowhurst, who whilst an MCC officer did an enormous amount to kick start this project, has stayed in touch through the Shire Hall Stewards.  Jane Roberts, who some of you might remember as a previous member of the one stop shop area working team, who also was responsible for the initial commitment by Monmouthshire County Council, has also contacted us this week to join the celebration that we have got there at last.

This weekly blog will keep you informed of progress, but you can always get more information from the One Stop Shop

So many other things happening in Monmouth at the moment!  It is not exactly true that the town council were moved into the old Job Centre in the Market Hall just so that they would all end up falling into the river, but essential repairs are taking place on the retaining wall below the one stop shop and museum car park that will entail a short temporary closure of the path and the bridge to Vauxhall Fields.  More details as soon as they are available. Fear not you Rainbow Warriors, fish, bats, otters and birds are all being taken care of during this temporary work that aims to keep the whole area safe, and to find out a bit more about the construction of the retaining wall which seems to be giving up the ghost.

One of the biggest things for Monmouth in the past week is that the Friends of Monmouth Cemetery have won European Money through WAG to do something about the historic Cemetery Chapel.  If you visit the graves of loved ones up at the cemetery, I hope you have noticed some improvements to the area, thanks to the Friends, who have also been assisted by, and in turn have been assisting an interesting project by a large team of Monmouth comprehensive School pupils recently.  The European money will help transform the old chapel, currently used as a storage area into a family heritage resource.  European money for Monmouth?  Surely some mistake!  Congratulations to all concerned.

Anyway, enough for this first edition of the blog, lots more to come in the future I hope.  Hoping the web editor will be able to arrange some feedback and opportunity for questions and comments