Town councillors have vented their frustration at representatives of the Community Safety Action Teams (CSATs) including the newly-appointed Police Inspector for Monmouth, Inspector Sarah Taylor.

The idea to hear about the scope of the CSATs at the meeting on Monday (17th February) fell awry when councillors seized their opportunity to highlight some of the problems they faced in sorting out some of the town's issues.

Debbie McCarty and Andy Mason had begun by explaining how CSATS is driven by a partnership of a wide variety of interested parties, including county and town councils, youth groups and housing associations.

Focusing mainly on crime and anti-social behaviour, they empower local people to take responsibility and fight issues in their locality.

However, Councillor Anthea Dewhurst was not impressed.

She felt strongly about the continuous parking on the single yellow line in Priory Street and told how locals have been 'chased' along the pavement opposite by vehicles mounting the pavement to avoid the traffic.

Mrs McCarty and Mr Mason explained that this was more of a single agency issue and something the police would deal with.

Cllr Graham Pritchard said he could not recollect one matter they had sorted out.

Cllr Bob Hayward said he found their explanation unacceptable and listed a number of issues within the town where both Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) and the police shift responsibility to each other, examples being the Monnow Bridge parking and A-board problems, and accused both parties of not talking to each other.

He said it was evident there were many issues the police were failing to engage with; parking on Priory Street, dogs not on a lead on Chippenham, A-boards and parking on Hereford Road.

Cllr Sue White said she was not happy with the explanation that police used their discretion when dealing with parked cars and felt that a car parking illegally was just that.

Chief Inspector Taylor did explain that the police are working with MCC and have identified some issues that needed looking into.

Councillors were assured that the CSATs were doing everything they could to raise awareness of local campaigns, including providing details to the press.