The condemned Monmouth Ambulance station which was due to be replaced with a single-storey building was set out for refurbishment.

This was announced at a full council meeting following a question from Cllr Martin Newell who asked for an update from cabinet member Ian Chandler.

The station was last used 13 years ago and was said to be unfit for purpose since which ambulance crews have been using a portable cabin at the back of the station.

Campaigners have urged the county council to keep Goldwire Lane open and have been encouraged by a Freedom Of Information request regarding the consultation undertaken by Monmouthshire County Council .

It was under an experimental six-month road closure as part of a larger initiative to promote walking an cycling in the area.

A letter was given to the County Council after Monmouth’s Chamber of commerce, Sherren McCabe-Finlayson said the letter reflects, “the unanimous voice of our Chamber members and expresses the growing frustration, concern, and emotional fatigue shared across Monmouth’s business community and indeed, many residents.”

There were fears by parents in Monmouth that Kymin View School could be converted into a Welsh Medium School by a proposed “statutory consultation” on the Monmouth School clusters by MCC.

Parents were concerned that Kymin View could be earmarked and turned into a Welsh Medium School because of its surplus spaces as it has the capacity for 210 pupils. A letter from the school’s headteacher to the Beacon said, “no decisions have been made to close any of the schools at this stage.”

A well known community centre in was put at risk as Monmouth residents were faced with another issue as the Bridge’s Centre’s new lease sparked future rent concerns.

The community centre was offered a new 30-year lease which could see rent rise from £1 to £12,933 for the next three years.

Bridges have been in negotiation with MCC for over a year regarding the terms of a renewed lease for Drybridge House which expired in March 2025.

The summer month saw Bishop of Monmouth, Cherry Vann elected as the first ever woman Archbishop of Wales by the Church of Wales.

Bishop Vann secured the two-thirds majority vote from members of the Electoral College on the second day of its meeting at the St Pierre Church and Hotel in Chepstow.

An update on the community centre resulted in a trustee of a Bridges Community Centre believing the deal offered by the county council on its future lease leaves it “unacceptable” that their “community legacy should be placed at risk by an arrangement offering no financial stability for 27 of the next 30 years.” This was after Monmouthshire County Council, owners of Drybridge House have offered a 30 year lease with a grant to support the “good work” that the trustees do in running Bridges Centre.

An exciting month saw Monmouth come together for the annual Monmouthshire Show, back again for another summer. Livestock classes were re-introduced to the show this year; they were previously dropped due to Covid-19. The show has been part of the town's heritage since its early beginnings as a ploughing match in the 1790s.

Another festival to finish the summer month was held in the village of Penallt which came alive over the August bank holiday for the Art in Penallt festival. The community were able to appreciate art, sculpture, crafts, and the overall community spirit.

A meeting was held at Bridges Community Centre to try and save the community centre. The community hub was facing the threat of eviction if the trustees didn’t sign the lease by September 29.

Mark Walton, co-chairman of trustees, opened the campaign launch by describing Bridges as “a thriving hub at the heart of the community.”

Monmouth also celebrated the 58th annual raft race, and despite the miserable weather, there was a great turnout as rafters hit the water. Regular Chepstow entrants, Henson’s Heroes who are known always having a knew design each year hit the rocks close to Monmouth’s viaduct.

A popular bubble tea shop ‘Bubbles’ closed down in Monmouth after just over a year in operation. They were fined £45,000 for employing illegal workers. UK Immigration Enforcement announced the fine for Ice Boba who were trading under the name of ‘Bubbles’ in its latest quarterly summary of civil penalties.

An old Monmothorian county cricket club chairman and former school director has been disbarred from practicing as a barrister and was ordered to pay £54,000 costs after a tribunal ruled he lied on his CV about studying at Oxford University.

To also add to the month, an exciting visit was made from television presenter and sports journalist, Clare Balding who walked the Monmouthshire grounds as she hosted a walk in aid of her new book ‘Pastures New’. The community gathered with their dogs, and Clare led the walk. The Beacon spoke to her about her experiences as a journalist and about her new book which was based on a farm in Monmouthshire

Another memorable experience this year came when Haberdashers’ Monmouth School welcomed their Patron of Fashion, Design and Textiles, the world famous Professor Jimmy Choo who led two sketching workshops with pupils at the school.

The Beacon was able to secure an exclusive one on one interview with him, talking about the advice he gives to other aspiring artists.

The workshops led by the mastermind behind the designer shoes reflected the nature of the fashion industry and taught students different sketching styles as well as some top tips given to the designer by his his uncle who also spoke about his lifer and his experience of moving to London to work on the design skills which relishes passing on to other aspiring designers.

Monmouthshire County Council faced backlash after thousands of objections to its draft Local Development Plan were dismissed without their being any significant changes.

The plan was to see houses built on environmentally sensitive locations at Dixton Road, Monmouth, Mounton Road, Chepstow, Little Mill and Burrium Gate in Usk.

Welsh Water has been issued with a writ following court action which was taken against three companies which were blamed for river pollution.

The court action, taken by law firm Leigh Day representing nearly 4,000 claimants is against Welsh Water, Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig who is blamed for the pollution in the river Usk, and industrial chicken production firms, Avara Foods Limited and Freemans of Newent Limited who were blamed for pollution in the river Wye and Lugg.

All the firms strongly deny any wrongdoing

Welsh and French flags welcomed the Monmouth group to Carbonne last month to celebrate 50 years of Friendship with a guided tour of Carbonne’s historic centre and visits to the medieval cities. There was an official reception, laying of wreaths and a planting of a tree to symbolise the friendship between the towns.

A couple in their 70s went to trial over the death of a self-employed gardener who was crushed underneath their quad bike while using it. The couple had waited more than five years for their case to come trial but were eventually cleared of responsibility over the death of the gardener after it was argued he was using the quad bike at his own risk.

The first and only Reform women MP who grew up in the local area has come under fire from opposition MP’s after criticising the number of people of colour appearing in TV adverts.

Former Monmouth School for Girls pupil Sarah Pochin said on live TalkTV phone-in: “It drives me mad when I see adverts full of black people, full of Asian people.”

Both Labour and the Lib Dems accused the Runcorn and Helsby MP, who won a by-election last May by just six votes, of making a racist comment, and called on Reform Leader Nigel Farage to suspend her.

Farage described her remark as “ugly” , but he said “he understands the basic point,” and in his view it wasn’t racist.

The month also saw the community of Monmouth come together to commemorate Armistice Day to honour the fallen soldiers.

Monmouth residents gathered at Monmouth Castle on November 11 remembering those who gave their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts.

There was an introduction by Reverend Julie Barrell. Mayor’s Chaplain and it was attended by many local dignitaries, members of the Royal British Legion, the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers Militia as well as the public.

It was a day to remember the soldiers and civilians who died during the First World War which was fougyht between 1914- 1918 and all conflicts since.

Monmouth residents were left utterly devastated as Storm Claudia hit the town wiping out many residents homes and businesses. Throughout the early hours of Saturday November 15 the Monnow burst its banks and flood water swept though buildings resulting in residents having to be evacuated from their homes.

The rain fell into the early hours of Saturday morning and the amount of water which would normally flow into the River Monnow instead broke free and surged through the town in less than 20 minutes.

The community needed each other more than ever, and came together with their buckets, mops and generosity to help those in those desperate times and through it Monmouth is continuing to push through.

The town was covered in debris, silt, and it appears to be the worst flooding in Monmouth since 1974.

The Monmouthshire Beacon office was one of many businesses on Monnow Street which was severely affected.

So many people have offered their time and support in these times of need. People have been donating clothes, food and toiletries to go to those who need them but it hasn’t been easy for residents, especially just before Christmas.

To help the community get back up on its feet The Monmouth Mayor Fund was set up to help those at this time, raising over £150,000.

An update to the Monmouth Ambulance station said the work was officially started on Ambulance Station but following the poor weather conditions the original 20-week build programme has been extended and is now scheduled by the end of April 2026.

A man who strangled, was imprisoned and brutalised his partner in a six-year reign of violence at their woodland caravan was jailed for eight years.

Judge Daniel Williams told Antonio ‘Angel’ Villafane he was a “grandiose bully” who “worked your way through the domestic abuser’s playbook” terrorising the woman at their secluded off-grid home near Tintern.

He was convicted of six charges of strangling, coercively controlling her, wounding, assault and fraud after a trial.

Another huge announcement for Monmouth to end the year of 2025 came when it was revealed that Shire Hall was to be shut until 2027 for a £2.8 million revamp.

The historic Grade I-listed building overlooking Agincourt Square, which includes the Chartist trial courtroom, celebrated its 300th anniversary last year.

The hall will be shut from December 20 to allow the works to commence for the upgrade. A council spokesperson said: “supported by a £2.8m investment, including £1.5m from the National Heritage Lottery Fund, this project will see the Shire Hall revitalised as an inspiring community museum and dynamic learning hub.

Restoration of the historic Inglis Bridge which links Osbaston and Rockfield started with the long-awaited work expected to be finished by Easter 2026.

The bridge will be restored to its original weight-bearing capacity of three tonnes, in line with listed building requirements. Initially, access will be limited to pedestrians, cyclists, pushchairs, and motor scooters.

Councillor Jane Lucas who has been campaigning for the work to get underway said: “This is a fantastic Christmas present for Monmouth, after years of campaigning and community effort, we’re finally seeing real progress on this much-loved bridge.”