As I write on behalf of the Shire Hall Project Group, the scaffolding is being unloaded into the compound at the Shire Hall, so before
long it should be soaring up into the blue yonder. It has taken a while to find a design for the
scaffolding that does the job, but that doesn't damage the stone work or totally obliterate access to some local businesses. As always, it has been about finding a balance, and this takes some time.
I think we are all going to be surprised about how high the scaffolding will go. I had imagined that it would go up to the top of the pediment, forgetting that it has to provide complete access for the roof repairs, good thing that it is going to be shrouded in something interesting, rather than just orange netting. Preparations are well in hand for the interesting competition, puzzle, graphic covered shroud, which will be put up by the scaffolders when all of the scaffolding is up and secure. This is obviously going to take a little time.
I mentioned the project group and you may wonder who and what this is?
The project director and the project manager from
Monmouthshire County Council are there, as are representatives of the
town council, and the Shire Hall Stewards. The team is made up by the
area working team from the one stop shop, and also a member of MCC
communications team. Our particular job as a project team is to make
sure that the interests of the town are represented in this important
project, and that the town is kept informed of progress on the project.
We are also very
involved in how the building will be used, and how it will be managed
when this is all finished. Our job is not to run the project, our
expert project manager, Keith Davies, is fully in charge of that,
working to the project
director who is also the MCC Head of Asset Management. The whole
project answers to a project board who oversee the financial management
and development of the contract. The Town council is also represented
on that Executive board along with the appropriate County Councillors
and Officers.
The Shire Hall
Stewards have done a grand job in keeping this project on the boil, and
they are still busy fund raising for their
contribution to the project fund. If you were lucky enough to get to
their fashion show last Friday you will know it was a great success,
look out for their next event, it is bound to be a good one. The Shire
Hall Stewards are also available to come and talk to local groups about
the project, if you are interested, you can contact them through the
one stop shop, tel. 01600 710610.
The Stewards are very
interested in attracting new
members. They know that their role as watchful friends of the Shire
Hall will always be an important one, and they will have crucial role
to play when the Hall comes back to life after its
restoration. Again, you can contact them through the one stop shop if
you don't know any of their members.
We are also planning a
real proper newsletter to add to this rather brief blog. These will be
available from various places in town, and we will also be sending them
to everybody we can think of. In the future, when work gets going, we
hope to be able to show some pictures of the work on the fabric of the
building. The computer shop in Beaufort Square has also offered to show
some pictorial record of on going work.
So here we are, the
real and visible work is obviously
starting, watch this space for more news on the project and for the
future plans to use the Shire Hall as the true heart of the town.
Welcome to Bamford Trading the Mail Order Company - Everything for the Home, Handyman, Baby, Pet Owner, Outdoor Leisure Enthusiast and Gardener, including a huge range of Velcro®, Hardware, Plumbing and DIY products.
Bamford Trading kindly offers a 5% discount to all welcometomonmouth.co.uk users!
To take them up on their generous offer either give them a call or click here....
Dont forget to mention welcometomonmouth.co.uk to get your 5% discount!
AM PRAISES LOCAL RETAILERS
NATIONAL Assembly Member for Monmouth, Nick Ramsay, has today welcomed news that Dingestow Post Office and Village Stores, Kingstone Brewery in Tintern and N S James Family Butchers in Raglan are in contention for the Welsh retail categories of the Countryside Alliance Awards.
The Welsh winners will be announced next January during a reception at the National Assembly for Wales, before going on to compete against winners from Scotland, Northern Ireland and the English regions in the United Kingdom final.
Speaking earlier, local AM Nick passed on his congratulations and wished the contenders the very best of luck: "It is fantastic that three local businesses have been singled out as potential Welsh champions at this year's Countryside Alliance Awards.
"These Awards recognise and celebrate rural individuals and businesses who are ambassadors for both local produce and the communities to which they are central.
"It is safe to say
that Dingestow Post Office, Kingstone Brewery and N S James Family Butchers are not only renowned in their communities, but right across Monmouthshire and beyond.
"I would like to wish all three entrants the very best of luck and I am very much looking forward to attending next January's Welsh Assembly reception at which the winners will be revealed."
Town Ship Points To Ferry
Saturday 15th November 2008
Monmouth Town 0 Briton Ferry Athletic 2
Despite a relatively solid defensive display Monmouth Town's Kingfishers were again made to pay for missed opportunities, some bad offside decisions and indiscipline as a compact and skilful Briton Ferry side made their way back to West Glamorgan with all three points.
Town had been given strict instructions on how they needed to play the game by absent Manager Andy Beattie and for the most part followed them to the letter. Ferry were largely frustrated by a sea of defenders in the first half and didn't force Roberts in the Town goal to make a single save. At the other end
Palmer and Bowen were getting in good positions but failed to get shots away or were mysteriously pulled up for offside.
The portents for the second half were not good however as Smith picked up a needless yellow card after only five minutes
NATIONAL Assembly Member for Monmouth, Nick Ramsay, was pleased to attend the launch of a new book detailing the history of Usk at Sessions House last night (Tuesday 11th November).
Usk Castle, Priory and Town, edited by Jeremy K. Knight and Andy Johnson, explores life in Usk from prehistoric and Roman to modern times.
Speaking after the launch Nick said: "It was a real pleasure to attend the launch of Usk, Castle Priory at the Sessions House. It was a well attended event and I think everyone enjoyed meeting the book's contributors.
"Usk has a chequered history that actually pre-dates Roman times. Particularly fascinating are records of the 'Welsh Revolt', in the 15th Century, when Owain Glyndŵr burned Usk to the ground while gaining control of South Wales from the English.
"It is wonderful that this history has been chronicled in such a comprehensive book.
Definitely worth a read!"
Shire Hall competition shrouded in secrecy
Shire Hall will soon be covered in
four metre and seven metre high shrouds covered in characters that represent the story of Monmouth town.
The hoarding that surrounds the
building will also show life size people looking up at the shroud as part of the Shire Hall projects efforts to attract visitors to the top half of town.
The hoarding and the shroud will be
erected before the end of 2008, once the scaffolding is complete.
Debbie McCarty of Monmouth's One
Stop Shop is part of the Shire Hall project team. She explained:
As part of a drive to increase the amount of pupils who eat school meals, school children in Monmouthshire are being asked to take part in a competition to design a logo to promote school meals
Sally Gaskins, Monmouthshire County
Council's School Development Officer, explained:
"We are sending a competition to all Monmouthshire primary schools asking pupils to design a Monmouthshire School Meals logo or character that we can adopt on all publications and literature, with the aim of raising the profile of school meals. The design will need to reflect ideas of healthy eating and healthy lifestyles."
Pupils will have the chance to win the following prizes:
Residents in Monmouth, Abergavenny and Usk should now put their paper recycling in either their black box or purple bag, depending on which scheme covers their area.
Following the recent expansion of its multi-material collection service, Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) has withdrawn its separate paper recycling collection currently operated by Paper-Savers.
The service is no longer required as residents can now put their newspapers and magazines in either their black boxes or purple bags - from where they will be collected every week and recycled in the normal way.
Anybody who does not receive a collection can ring the MCC recycling team on 01633 644897 for further information.
BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE
SPECIALS SHOW THEIR WORTH
British Transport Police (BTP) Special Constables are involved in a series of operations this week as part of a national policing
initiative to highlight the contribution of volunteer officers.
National Specials Weekend is an annual event, backed by the National Policing Improvement Agency, to highlight the vital role
performed by Special Constables in local communities. This year the weekend has been extended by several days to cover the Halloween period.
The chosen theme for this year relates to combating antisocial behaviour, which historically escalates between Halloween and bonfire night.
LOCAL AM VOICES SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL WRITING COMPETITION
NATIONAL Assembly Member for Monmouth, Nick Ramsay, is calling on teenagers from across Monmouthshire to take part in a thought provoking writing competition.
This fun competition, organised by financial education charity the ifs School of Finance, is open to any UK resident aged between 14 and 19.
The competition enables teenagers to test their writing skills by writing a 1,000 word article with the headline: "Should Government encourage home ownership?"
As well as the title "ifs Young Business Writer of the Year", the winner will also receive a
£500 cash prize.
Every year the ifs Young Business Writer of the Year competition is judged by a business or finance journalist from a leading broadsheet newspaper. Past judges include Robert Cole from The Times
and James Daley from The Independent. This year Peter Taylor, City Correspondent for the Daily Telegraph, will judge the competition.
Welcome to Bamford Trading the Mail Order Company - Everything for the Home, Handyman, Baby, Pet Owner, Outdoor Leisure Enthusiast and Gardener, including a huge range of Velcro®, Hardware, Plumbing and DIY products.
Bamford Trading kindly offers a 5% discount to all welcometomonmouth.co.uk users!
To take them up on their generous offer either give them a call or click here....
Dont forget to mention welcometomonmouth.co.uk to get your 5% discount!
