Caerwent Community Council

Many of you will have experienced holdups in planning at MCC.  The delays in the main are caused by the shear volume of applications, especially as when the housing market slows down the home improvement market grows considerably.

Councillors and Officers have been aware for some time that something needed to be done about it and as a result there will be entirely new procedures for access to Officers (appointments). A new computer system will allow applicants to progress their applications on line and as a result of its enhanced internal use it is envisaged that considerable amounts of time will be saved resulting in an improved service.  Lets hope it works!  In an attempt to ensure that it does, Community Councillors will get training on planning matters and guidance on how to make the most effective use of the new technology.

Progress on the Caerwent Heritage Project at the old school continues to be made with the Consultants pressing ahead with their brief.  It is envisaged that we will have the report in June at which time the steering group hopes to be able to present it to the wider community for further consultation on the way forward.

We are considering and looking in some detail into the possibility of a “Community Questionnaire”.  This has been carried out with great success in St Arvans and recently Tintern.  Shirenewton is also planning to do one soon.  This involves delivering a questionnaire which is compiled by this Council to every household.  After collecting it, it is then evaluated, and a report compiled.  That report is presented by the Community Council at a Public meeting.  After this process it goes to County Hall where it plays a major part in assessing the needs of the local population as perceived by them.  More news on this when we have it.

The red and white posts in the central reservation near Crick are unsightly!  We all agree about that, so do MCC Highways.  However, they were specified by the Department of Transport to meet their legal requirements.  Representations have been made to the Department of Transport to see if something more sympathetic can replace them.  We will let you know.

Phil Murphy, Chairman

Mrs L McKeon, Clerk to the Council, Caerwent Community Council, Mayfield, Pill Row, Caldicot, Monmouthshire, NP26 5JD.  Tel:  01291 424802