Proposal doesn't hold water
SIR,
In a recent statement, Councillor Alan Wintle claimed that the proposal to allow 400 new homes to be built on land adjacent to the Wonastow Road, was "the least worse option". Perhaps Mr Wintle would like to tell us what, then, would be the worse options.
Anyone who lives in this area knows that this land frequently floods, not least because it acts as a reservoir for the run-off from the surrounding hills. It spends much of the year waterlogged, and it is likely that any houses built there would be prone to flooding, due to the inability of rainwater to drain away quickly and safely.
The drainage brooks and ditches in the area already struggle to accommodate existing run-off during periods of heavy rain and any more concreting over greenfield sites would surely exacerbate the problem, putting existing homes also at greater risk of flooding.
In addition, building 400 new homes in an area where there are few jobs, a poor public transport network, overstretched medical facilities and schools full close to capacity, makes neither environmental or economic sense. But since when has Monmouthshire County Council ever been bothered by such minor inconveniences?
Christopher Were
(Monmouth)
'Mystified' by poll
SIR,
The Town Council's Community Affairs Committee would like to remind readers that its work to reinstate some kind of Jobcentre in Monmouth has not stopped. We are mystified by the results of the web poll in the Beacon of 27th January, which indicate that 80% of participants believe the present arrangement is 'fine'.
Ever since the Jobcentre closed in 2007, we have collated and forwarded the complaints and anxieties of jobseekers who find themselves compulsorily travelling to Abergavenny. We have achieved an agreement whereby Ross or Coleford Jobcentres can be used instead, but this, we understood, is not much of a concession, as transport is still such a problem.
If the web poll is correct, we are amazed, as it runs counter to what people tell us in person. Frustrated jobseekers asking for information via the phone in the One Stop Shop do not give the impression of being satisfied with the arrangement. Neither do the people trying to carry on the normal work of the helpdesk in the same space.
The Petitions Committee of the National Assembly has been persistent on our behalf in trying to trace how Monmouth's portion of £1.7 billion has been spent. That was the sum allocated by the UK Ministry of Work and Pensions last spring to alleviate unemployment.
The result had been some fairly dismissive letters from Jobcentre Plus in Cardiff. However, last November, a member of the Jobcentre Plus South-East Wales management team came to see the Monmouth phone in use and meet the One Stop Shop management staff. Some useful discussions were had.
We continue to request a proper interview room staffed by Jobcentre Plus, even for one day a week. May we urge anyone who finds that the Beacon web poll does not tally with their own experience to phone the Town Clerk on 01600 715662, or tell their Town Councillor.
Anthea Dewhurst
(Chair, Community Affairs Committee)
Plans for Rolls centenary
SIR,
As you are aware, this year sees the 100th anniversary of the death of Charles Rolls (of Rolls-Royce fame).
In order to maximise the publicity for the town during these events, the Town Council intends to erect banners on street lighting columns (subject to the permission of Monmouthshire County Council) and from the brackets that are used to hold Christmas trees.
We are sure you will agree that the more publicity we get, the more visitors will be attracted to the town.
Dr John RP Evans
(Town Clerk)
School sale 'not so straightforward'
SIR,
I am responding to the letter from Dr Penny, printed in the Beacon of 27th January, concerning the proceeds of the proposed sale of Cwmcarvan schoolhouse and schoolroom by the Monmouth Diocesan Trust.
Although the objectives of the Diocesan Trust are wide, the position is not as straightforward as Dr Penny describes. The advice that the trustees have received is that the sale proceeds are subject to a scheme dated 27th October 1971, and framed by the Secretary of State for Wales under the Endowed Schools Acts indicating that such net proceeds be used to purchase or maintain a church school or teacher's dwelling house in the Diocese of Monmouth.
The trustees have sought the advice of the Charity Commission as to whether any or all of the net proceeds could be used for other charitable purposes. The commissioners replied that they are "not able to authoritatively determine the matter, and it would be proper for the trustees to take appropriate legal advice in order to resolve any doubts that they might have over questions of law".
The trustees therefore instructed a firm of lawyers in London, which specialises in educational trust law, to establish the legal position with regard to how the net sale proceeds may be spent.
The trustees have therefore asked whether the net proceeds must be used for the benefit of an existing church school (of which there are seven in Monmouthshire, and 18 in the diocese), or if some of it may be used for the benefit of the local parish. We have received an initial response from the lawyers in which they confirm that the sale is subject to the 1971 scheme, but they have asked for further detailed information before giving a definitive opinion.
The trustees now await clarification of the legal position, and when that has been considered by them, I shall be happy to attend a meeting to discuss the situation. It has been a personal sadness to me that after many years of attempted negotiations, the Cwmcarvan Schoolroom Association was unable to accept the terms offered by the trustees (on the basis of professional advice) to use the premises for community purposes. It was only when these negotiations failed that the decision was taken to sell the property.
Perhaps I could add that although the Trust has not spent any money on the property, neither did it receive any rental income during the years when the property was let.
The trustees are certainly not ignoring the views of the local community, but they are required to act legally, and there are restrictions on how registered charities may spend their money. However, if some of the sale proceeds can be used for charitable purposes within the parish, I know the trustees will give that their careful consideration.
Dominic Monmouth
(Bishop of Monmouth)
Thanks from Lions
SIR,
Monmouth Lions Club has recently made donations in aid of water wells in Africa and eye camps in India (something we do every year), and also to the Haiti earthquake appeal. Following the devastating earthquake, Lions clubs around the world responded quickly and generously, and the Lions Clubs International organisation has so far raised $1.5 million to aid Haiti.
In Monmouth, we can only begin to contribute to the help required by people more needy than ourselves, but the club cannot do that without the support which it receives from people in and around the town.
That support, for which we are most grateful, comes in various ways – for example, from public donation at the time of our street collections, and from our annual sale of bedding plants (coming up again soon).
We must also thank the businesses that support our work: Waitrose, for their help with the Food Parcels for the Needy at Christmas (in which we have been participating for many years); Somerfield, for allowing us to raise money by packing customers' shopping; Spice Royale, for very generously hosting a fundraising evening; and local pubs that take part in our annual Easter Egg raffles.
If any of your readers are interested in joining or helping the Monmouth Lions Club, please contact me on 01600 713543.
Andy Raynor
(Secretary, Monmouth Lions Club)
Keep Caldicot's
care home open
SIR,
Budden Crescent in Caldicot is the respite care home for Monmouthshire, and has been leasing out placements to Torfaen Council. This lease ends on 31st March, as Torfaen Council has made other arrangements for its respite care requirements.
Torfaen Council had been paying 30 per cent of the running costs, which will leave a funding deficit of some £130,000 per annum.
With other parents and carers, we, as parents of an adult with learning disabilities, attended a meeting with members of Monmouthshire County Council's Social and Housing Department, chaired by Councillor Brian Hood, on 19th January.
At this and at a previous meeting, concern was expressed about the future of the staff at Budden Crescent. They have provided first class care in the 18 years they have been operational.
I would appeal to all parents and carers who use Budden Crescent for respite to come together in order to ensure that this facility is kept open. I would welcome any contact, either by telephone on 01600 714849, or by e-mail to [email protected]">[email protected].
N Lewis
(Wyesham)
In defence
of Davies
SIR,
I trust that the low level of political opportunism and personal abuse demonstrated by Hamish Sandison, Labour parliamentary candidate for Monmouth (letters page, 3rd February), will not be allowed to continue – particularly in the run-up to the forthcoming general election. It would be a shame to lower the good standards your readers have come to expect.
Chas Evans
(Llanvetherine)
SIR,
In labelling David Davies "bigoted and ignorant", Hamish Sandison reveals a lot about himself.
There is nothing bigoted or ignorant about David Davies. What he does is display a refreshing attitude – that of being unafraid to speak out against what is wrong, a trait we are in serious danger of losing altogether, thanks to the politically correct brigade.
S Thomas
(Monmouth)
With other parents and carers, we, as parents of an adult with learning disabilities, attended a meeting with members of Monmouthshire County Council's Social and Housing Department, chaired by Councillor Brian Hood, on 19th January.
At this and at a previous meeting, concern was expressed about the future of the staff at Budden Crescent. They have provided first class care in the 18 years they have been operational.
I would appeal to all parents and carers who use Budden Crescent for respite to come together in order to ensure that this facility is kept open. I would welcome any contact, either by telephone on 01600 714849, or by e-mail to [email protected]">[email protected].
N Lewis
(Wyesham)
In defence
of Davies
SIR,
I trust that the low level of political opportunism and personal abuse demonstrated by Hamish Sandison, Labour parliamentary candidate for Monmouth (letters page, 3rd February), will not be allowed to continue – particularly in the run-up to the forthcoming general election. It would be a shame to lower the good standards your readers have come to expect.
Chas Evans
(Llanvetherine)
SIR,
In labelling David Davies "bigoted and ignorant", Hamish Sandison reveals a lot about himself.
There is nothing bigoted or ignorant about David Davies. What he does is display a refreshing attitude – that of being unafraid to speak out against what is wrong, a trait we are in serious danger of losing altogether, thanks to the politically correct brigade.
S Thomas
(Monmouth)
SIR,
David Davies is right to point out that certain minority attitudes to women in our country do need investigation.
Mr Sandison may be interested in what the Canadian government says to the 170,000 immigrants from all quarters of the globe who apply to Canada for citizenship each year, and where there is little or no racial conflict.
"In Canada, men and women are equal under the law. Canada's openness and generosity do not extend to barbaric cultural practices that tolerate spousal abuse, "honour killings," female genital mutilation, or other gender-based violence. Those guilty of these crimes are severely punished under Canada's criminal law."
We have much to learn together.
A Charnock
(Monmouth)
SIR,
Monmouthshire's MP, defending women's rights at Prime Minister's Questions, asked a very reasonable question about the light sentence given to a rapist, asking if any investigation had taken place into the background and culture that could explain the rapist's disregard of women's rights.
It is a fact that in some parts of the world, raped women are further victimised, and convicted for having a sexual experience outside marriage. They may, at best, be ostracised by their community with all chance of marriage lost. Recently reported was a case where a woman who, having been raped, was sentenced to be stoned to death. Among those throwing stones were her rapists.
David stands up for the rights of women from ethnic minorities and gets accused of racism. To my mind, the real racists are those who prefer to defend backward cultures that deny women rights.
Roy Garner
(Chepstow)
SIR,
Politicians rarely say things that hit the headlines, because they are too busy saying very little. David Davies expresses views I often disagree with, but he does at least promote debate.
His latest utterances include some crass comments about barbaric views outside of our traditional values, but people who know David Davies MP recognise he is not a racist. The debate he opens up is about how we see women in our society.
In our papers we read about John Terry, in the Sun there are page 3 girls, on our news we see women covered head to toe and denied education or even freedom of movement. The Liberal Democrats have polices to tackle domestic violence, proposals to prevent advertisers from pressurising young women to conform to dangerous body images, equality of pay and support for part-time workers (often women) with no tax for those earning less than £10,000 per year.
I hope that in the weeks leading to this election, we can discuss ideas and try not to bad-mouth each other.
Martin Blakebrough
(Chairman, Monmouthshire
Liberal Democrats)