Annual Report

2008/9

The year 2008/2009 was a busy one for Chepstow Town Council.  The new Council which was elected in May 2008 and sought to progress a number of major projects and, where possible to enhance the basic services provided by Monmouthshire County Council.

Drill Hall
In particular, the Town Council took out a 21 year lease for the Drill Hall from the County Council and established a Joint Community and Town Council Management Committee to oversee the management of this important community venue, which has now been returned to regular use for film shows, musical evenings, theatre, poetry readings, book signings and general community hire, which have been very popular.

Town Arch and Gatehouse
The Town Council also secured the long term use and preservation of Town’s historic Gatehouse and Town Arch for Chepstow, completing the purchase of the premises from the County Council in September 2008.  A major refurbishment to provide better access, improved meeting facilities, plus much needed community storage facilities was undertaken and completed in April 2009.

Playscheme at Bulwark Community Centre
In summer 2008 the Town Council fully funded the highly successful playscheme run at Bulwark Community Centre and contributed towards the cost of the County Council’s Leisure Centre playscheme.

Floral displays in Chepstow
During the summer the Town Council also provided fruit hanging baskets for local schools and the floral hanging baskets and floral displays throughout the town.  The Town Council greatly appreciates the input of local traders who supported the Town Council’s initiative by purchasing individual baskets and paying for their watering to ensure that the town looked at its best for the Wales in Bloom competition, plus those enthusiastic local gardeners who entered the Town Council’s Community in Bloom Competition.

Christmas Lighting
At Christmas, the Town Council provided Christmas lighting displays in Chepstow town centre and at Bulwark and with the assistance of so many talented local young people, their tutors, local businesses who lent last minute support, and Chepstow Round Table, delivered another highly successful Christmas Switch On Event, complete with Chepstow’s own Father Christmas!!

War Memorial
The Town Council funded the cleaning of the Town’s War Memorial and the repainting of the Memorial railings and the “Gun” and contributed to the annual Remembrance Day Parade

Environmental Improvements
Throughout the remainder of the year the Town Council continued to tackle problem unadopted areas throughout the town and funded: the pruning and replanting of Nelson Street car park and the bedding area adjacent to the sub way under the A48; community litter picking initiatives; the planting of bulbs in the spring and, fruit trees in the autumn and provided an additional bench within the Dell.

Litter Bins
Chepstow Town Council provided an additional twelve, much needed, litter bins which will be regularly emptied by Monmouthshire County Council; and, introduced a dog waste disposal and collection service, managed by the Town Council;

Promoting Chepstow
The Town Council provided prime funding for promotional literature to attract new business into the town which proved to be valuable in the marketing of the former "Woolworths" store, and for the production of the highly popular “What’s On Guide” to be relaunched in May 2009.

Community Events

Chepstow Town Council contributed funding to:  

  • the Summer concerts at the Bandstand;
  • local school pupil’s attendance at the Two Rivers Folk Festival;
  • Central Kaff;
  • Bulwark Community Centre;
  • the Annual Round Table Firework Display;
  • Chepstow Festival;
  • Chepstow Town Band’s Summer School;
  • the Severn Bridge Social Club’s Christmas Switch On Event;
  • Chepstow Carnival;
  • the work of the Severn Area Rescue Association.
  • Fizzlights Theatre Group;
  • Chepstow Museum;
  • Communities for Bulwark and Thornwell (ComBAT);
  • Wye Valley Women’s Institute;
  • Wye Valley Ramblers Association;
  • Bulwark Senior Citizens Club; Garden City Footballl Club; who benefited from funding under the Town Council’s Grants Scheme which seeks to assist small local groups who might otherwise struggle to find funding elsewhere.

Chepstow Citizens Advice Bureau
One of the Town Council’s largest grant contributions supports the continued work of the Chepstow Citizens Advice Bureau at the Gatehouse which provides an invaluable service for the community.

Community Safety
The Council has contributed towards the cost of: CCTV within the Town; and additional Police Community Support Officers for the Town.

Representing Local Views
The Town Council has actively promoted the views and interests of Chepstow to national, regional and county level Government on a host of consultative matters.  The Town Council’s Planning and Administration Committee has been particularly vigilant in scrutinising planning proposals and has made careful and considered recommendations to all planning applications received.  However, the Town Council has limited powers in respect of planning matters and its recommendations have not always been accepted by the County Council’s Planning Committee.

Civic Affairs
On Civic matters, Councillor David Dovey, the Town Mayor and his Deputy, Councillor Henry Ashby, have also had a busy time, supporting the opening of a number of new businesses in the town, lending their support to charity events, supporting local groups and judging the Christmas Shop Window competition.

The Way Forward

Finally, Chepstow Town Council has as a starting point identified the following priorities and objectives of the Council for the next four years.  The Town Council would, however, welcome your view on these priorities so please do contact the Town Council on clerk@chepstow.co.uk or by telephone 01291 626370.

Community Communication

  • To investigate the provision of a community notice board for each ward, possibly starting with a trail in one ward.

  Environmental Improvements

  • To identify one area per year for a permanent planting scheme, the first area to be Thornwell Roundabout  and       to seek corporate sponsorship where possible. (Any sponsorship to be acknowledged with a plaque at the site).
  • To undertake annual daffodil and spring bulb planting.
  • To continue the community orchards project by planting additional trees annually.
  • To provide additional litter and dog waste bins.
  • To continue community litter picking inititiatives.
  • To try to identify land suitable for allotments.
  • To investigate the measures for removing unsightly “gum“ from the town streets.
  • To make environmental improvements in Bulwark – to establish a working group of residents and Town Councillors to identify what and where improvements could be made and to actively seek grant funding for feasibility and design studies.
  • To actively seek grant funding – including that available for artworks and community arts projects. 

 Community Events and Entertainment

  • To pump-prime community events and entertainment. 
  • To actively promote and support the Drill Hall and Bulwark Community Centre.
  • To seek input into community events and entertainment from young people.
  • To support the development of cinema.

 Community Funding Contributions

  • To consider support for more events and activities.
  • To monitor grants awarded thoughly.
  • To increase the size of thecommunity grants budget.
  • To reconsider proposals for a ward grant scheme.