Update on Shire Hall and other things

You may be thinking that Agincourt Square looks a bit abandoned, and wondering what's happening? Well it seems that designing a comprehensive scaffolding system that is not going to put undue stress and strain on our Shire Hall, but will still leave some access around the building is quite a complicated process. Good job we started early, and it seems that they are now nearly there, and solutions have been found that meet all the requirements. It should all be up and ready to go within 6 weeks. This extended period for finalising a design had been foreseen which is why we were allowed to start the setting up work early The very good news is that wonderful local graphic designers Platform One are designing a shroud for the scaffolding that will set a real puzzle for residents and visitors alike to solve. This shroud which will cover the top visible part of this large scaffold will present a series of figures all of whom will represent some aspect of town life and town heritage. The motif will be continued on the large expanse of boarding around the square, where an ‘audience' designed in the same style will be portrayed looking up at the scaffolding and pointing to various notices displayed on the boarding. So watch this space, or rather the space around the square! Everybody hopes that initiatives like this will keep visitors interested in coming up to the top of the town where they will continue to patronise local businesses.

Hope some of you reading this were intrigued by Green Travel Day in Monmouth on Thursday. Annette Baker, who is becoming our own green warrior, on behalf of the partnership forum is determined to champion alternative ways of travelling in and around Monmouth that will keep those emissions and the carbon footprint down. Her group excelled themselves yesterday, using various ways of raising awareness of cycling and alternatives to cars. [Did you see the horse drawn hearse?] Anyway, the legacy of the day is that they managed to obtain lots of local views about how people wanted to see transport developing. The real surprise was just how many people said they would prefer to use public transport if it could be provided.

Monmouth, of course, has had its fair share of the bad weather lately, and suffered some of the flooding that affected so much of the UK. No consolation to those who suffered so badly, but it was expected to be much worse at some stages over the weekend. Council workers worked valiantly all weekend filling and delivering sand bags, and preparing emergency accommodation. Our Grass Routes Bus, driven by top volunteer Trevor Phillips was on hand to help evacuate where necessary. Stars, everyone.

Lots of other things going on in Monmouth which becomes a real transition town tonight [Friday 19th] instead of an aspiring one. [So beating Ambridge as any Archers' fans will realise.] This is a major triumph for another group in the town, led by Monmouth Partnership Forum Chair, Simon Brown. The group has managed to convince the transition town movement that Monmouth is serious in its intent to reduce its carbon footprint.

Lots of other things going on in the town which the Council is involved in, and if you need to catch up, why not come to the next Central Monmouthshire Area Committee which is on Tuesday, 30 September at Kymin View School, Wyesham at 2pm. There is a fifteen minute public forum where anybody can raise anything or ask any questions of our local councillors. This meeting should be particularly interesting because members will be discussing a document called Vision Monmouth which sets out priority projects for the town over the next few years. None of the projects will be of any surprise to the people of Monmouth as they are all projects that the town themselves have been involved in for a while. However, it is good to see the Council setting out its support in this way.

So why not come along to the area committee meeting, and see and hear for yourself what the Council is doing in Monmouth and the surrounding areas?

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