PROTESTS
OVER CASTLE CONTRACT
A decision by Monmouthshire County Council to award the catering contract,
including that for medieval banquets, at Caldicot Castle to a new company
came under severe criticism from local politicians and members of the
public. The contract, which had for the last twelve years been held by
a locally-based company, Caldicot Castle Entertainments Ltd, which employed
around 50 people, was awarded to Bristol-based Jamesons catering company.
Jamesons already holds the contract for catering at the nearby David Broome
Event Centre. Fears were expressed that local jobs would be lost as the
company would bring in an outside workforce. County Councillor Ron Stewart
stated, “It does not seem right that a company from Bristol is preferred
to a local company in Caldicot”, while a correspondent to the Wye
Valley Review claimed that the castle had been “parcelled up and
handed over to Bristol”. Monmouthshire County Council defended its
decision on the grounds that it was based on the recommendations of an
independent body after an extensive tendering process.
CARNIVAL
TO RETURN
Caldicot town council began steps to revive the town’s carnival,
which was cancelled in 2007 largely as a result of financial difficulties.
A meeting of the carnival committee was held in mid-March and initial
plans made for the bank holiday at the end of May.
PAIR DEFECT
TO LABOUR
Caldicot town councillors John Marshall and Julie Roberts publicly declared
that they had left Plaid Cymru and joined the Labour Party. According
to Plaid, both councillors left the party some years ago.
RAIL CAMPAIGNERS
TAKE FIGHT TO WESTMINSTER
Members of the Severn Tunnel Action Group held a meeting at Westminster
with local MPs as part of their campaign for improved services from the
station.
JOBS LOST
AT BREWERY
In Bev, the Belgian brewing company, announced that it was seeking to
shed 80 jobs at Magor brewery. The brewery, which produces Stella Artois
and Boddingtons, employs around 400 workers.
NO CHANGE
IN SUPERMARKET SAGA
In spite of continued rumours fuelled in the local press, no significant
developments have taken place in attempts by Caldicot Regeneration Group
and Monmouthshire County Council to sell off four acres of the comprehensive
school playing field for a second supermarket.
MACK STANDS
DOWN
One of Caldicot’s longest-standing charity workers retired from
his post. Arthur McAteer has been ‘poppy co-ordinator’ for
Caldicot branch of the Royal British Legion for 30 years, during which
time he helped to raise over £300,000.
ROADWORKS
AHEAD IN POETS CORNER
Monmouthshire County Council announced that a major programme of road
resurfacing would take place from June. The roads to be resurfaced were
listed as Longfellow Road, Wordsworth Close, Keats Close, Tennyson Close,
Tennyson Road, Shelley Close, Kipling Road, Burns Crescent, Shakespeare
Drive and Park Road.
HOUSE PRICE
WATCH
The cheapest house advertised in the local press for sale in Caldicot
at the end of March 2008 was a two-bedroom house in Estuary View at £134,950.
The most expensive property was a five-bedroom barn conversion at the
old Church Farm (Llanthony Secunda) at £550,000.
<< February 2008
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