Archive

  • Prison plan is approved

    AN Assembly planning inspector has given the go-ahead for an enclosed activity area at Usk Prison, despite objections from the Civic Society and local residents. Cllr John Harrhy spoke out against the scheme when it was considered by the county planning

  • Fear for birds after hedge ripped out

    THE hedge which surrounded the former Harold Road Junior School, Abergavenny has been ripped out, leading to complaints from residents. One woman, who does not wish to be named, said she had complained to Monmouthshire County Council and the Gwent Wildlife

  • Letters oppose market

    MONMOUTHSHIRE'S head of planning says the level of opposition to the plans for the re-development of Abergavenny Cattle Market is unprecedented. Almost 3,000 letters objecting to plans to build an Asda supermarket were delivered to the county council's

  • Yes, it's our title say Tintern

    TINTERN Abbey were crowned East Gwent Division One champions last Saturday after they beat Caldicot Town 3-1. A Daniel Savage penalty, plus goals from Tom Marmont and Stuart Mackie gave Tintern a 3-0 half-time lead. Mark Beresford grabbed a goal back

  • Fox gets cat calls

    Peter Fox, cabinet minister for lifelong learning and leisure and newly-appointed deputy leader of the council, was booed at hissed at last Thursday's full council meeting. Protesters angry at the axeing of the free school bus service from Bulwark to

  • Warning of seasonal crime

    POLICE in Chepstow are planning to crack down on opportunist thieves carrying out 'seasonal crime'. Chepstow CADRO officer Tony O'Connor has spoken to the Free Press, explaining what seasonal crime is and how the police plan to tackle it. He said: "Seasonal

  • Weather can't hold back on-fire Mardy

    MARDY under-12s recently triumphed in adverse weather conditions against Caldicot A, with Ryan Probert netting three times. With a strong cross wind and driving rain against them, Mardy were forced to compete doggedly both on the ground and in the air

  • Young side look impressive

    CHEPSTOW RFC played a development XV against St Peter's second XV last weekend, with the youngsters putting on a strong display to win 61-17. Of the 19 Chepstow players used, 14 were youth team regulars, while St Peter's used the match as a warm up for

  • Putting good food on school menu

    The Nation's favourite dinner lady, Jeanette Orrey, came to Monmouthshire on Monday, to help with the county's Better School Dinners initiative. A pioneer in transforming school dinners, she was the inspiration behind Monmouthshire's move to put healthier

  • A class act!

    SCHOOLS in Monmouth may now be on their Easter holidays - but three in particular have egg-stra cause for celebration. The design of the proposed new Wyesham Primary School has been praised by councillors, who passed the building's planning application

  • Eggsciting day out

    EASTER Monday sees the return of the Redbrook Eggstravaganza, which attracts visitors from the village as well as the surrounding areas. The event is being organised by the Redbrook Riverside Development Group, a voluntary community-based group, committed

  • Home Office 'lacking a grip'

    WALES' four police forces should seek more time for debate on the government's decision to merge them into one. So says AM Mike German, after Gwent Police Authority accused the Home Office of "lacking a grip" on the merger process. A letter from GPA chairman

  • Abergavenny boss ousted

    AFTER one draw and five defeats in their last six games, Abergavenny Thursdays' football management committee has voted to replace manager Bill Mainwaring. The post of player-manager was offered to 31-year-old former Thursdays player Carl Evans last week

  • Students on course for a 'plumb' career

    APRIL Prior has proved that anything men can do, she can do just as well. Twenty-seven-year-old April, a medical supplies product manager from Abergavenny, recently attended a plumbing course at Ebbw Vale Campus, Coleg Gwent for two evenings a week and

  • A class act!

    SCHOOLS in Monmouth may now be on their Easter holidays - but three in particular have egg-stra cause for celebration. The design of the proposed new Wyesham Primary School has been praised by councillors, who passed the building's planning application

  • All dressed up for Easter

    TINY tots from both St John's-on-the-Hill Day Nurs-eries celebrated the arrival of spring in style with a traditional Easter bonnet parade at Chepstow Race-course on Thursday. Children aged between 12 weeks and four years, from both the Racecourse and

  • Former lap-dancer admits attack in pub

    A PREGNANT former lapdancer was warned she could face a jail sentence after admitting attacking a landlady at a Chepstow pub. Amanda Jayne Wright, 23, appeared before Newport crown court and admitted assaulting landlady Jean Bees at Chepstow's The Bridge

  • Fear for birds after hedge ripped out

    THE hedge which surrounded the former Harold Road Junior School, Abergavenny has been ripped out, leading to complaints from residents. One woman, who does not wish to be named, said she had complained to Monmouthshire County Council and the Gwent Wildlife

  • Town are flying

    AN UNPRECEDENTED third win in a week for Chepstow Town on Monday night has enabled Barrie Vassallo's men to leap five places up the Welsh League Division Three table. One goal in each half at Cwmbran Stadium was enough to see off Celtic, after wins last

  • Win eludes Goytre in difficult week at home

    GOYTRE were only able to pick up a point from two home games this week, first going down 4-2 to promotion chasing West End, then failing to beat lowly Penrhiwfer. Club chairman Paul Greenhalgh admitted West End were "a very good side" after Wednesday's

  • Drill Hall closure date set

    A DATE has been set for the closure of Chepstow's popular Drill Hall, causing outrage among some of the town's councillors. Monmouthshire County Council said back in February that the Drill Hall would have to close, as part of a package of cuts to services

  • Young side look impressive

    CHEPSTOW RFC played a development XV against St Peter's second XV last weekend, with the youngsters putting on a strong display to win 61-17. Of the 19 Chepstow players used, 14 were youth team regulars, while St Peter's used the match as a warm up for

  • Home of Welsh music goes on market

    THE MONNOW Valley recording studios at Old Mill House, near Monmouth, little brother to the world-famous Rockfield Studios, is up for sale, writes Keith Fairbank. Bands including the Manic Street Preachers, the Stereophonics and Pulp have all rehearsed

  • Tom sets sights on gold

    WORLD junior medal rower Tom Lucy is on course to try and better last year's bronze after a solid showing at the latest GB trials. The 18-year-old Monmouth School oarsman was placed second best bowsider at a four-day training camp at Nottingham's National

  • School intake to be cut, despite opposition

    DESPITE overwhelming opposition from staff, governors and parents at Pembroke Primary School, Chepstow, Monmouth-shire's cabinet has agreed to reduce its intake to 210 pupils. In place of the current school there will be a one-form entry 210-place primary

  • Prison plan is approved

    AN Assembly planning inspector has given the go-ahead for an enclosed activity area at Usk Prison, despite objections from the Civic Society and local residents. Cllr John Harrhy spoke out against the scheme when it was considered by the county planning

  • Vocal protesters heckle Fox

    CHEPSTOW protesters took their fight to Monmouthshire County Hall on Thursday, in a bid to save a school bus service in the town. An unprecedented thirty minute adjournment took place during the full council meeting, after protesters sitting in the public

  • MP's fury at job centre changes

    THE government's Department of Work and Pensions has admitted that the JobCentre Plus in Monmouth is under threat from closure because it would be easier to manage everything under one roof in Abergavenny. A spokesman at the Department of Work and Pensions

  • Monmouth take to the Hills in friendly

    MONMOUTH Golf Club's first home friendly match of 2006 saw visitors Forest Hills get several close match-ups, but ended in Monmouth winning 5-3. In the lead match Monmouth captain David Crocker, paired with Brian Buckland, allowed the visitors' skipper

  • Sad to see park pool disappear forever

    It was the end of an era for many Abergavenny families when Bailey Park open-air swimming pool was demolished. The decision to raze the 67-year-old pool site was taken by Monmouthshire County Council after fears were expressed by Abergavenny town councillors

  • Committee backs down on new house

    RESIDENTS of the Hereford Road in Monmouth are celebrating after Monmouth Town Council's planning committee made a u-turn on a decision to recommend approval for a new five-bedroom house. Prof Elizabeth Wright has submitted an application to Monmouthshire

  • It just was not New Inn's lucky day

    Gwent County Division 3 PILCS 3 New Inn 0 After a hard fought 2-1 win over Ebbw Vale on Thursday, New Inn faced a short trip to local rivals PILCS. New Inn started the game well, although they suffered another blow when the in-form Barrie Evans was injured

  • Saved school row

    TORFAEN'S cabinet member for education slammed Wales education minister Jane Davidson for "undermining" the council's school reorganisation programme after her decision to save Ponthir Primary School from the axe. In a stinging letter to Ms Davidson,

  • Unprovoked gang attack

    A GWENT man says he is devastated after he was the victim of an unprovoked and vicious gang attack. Alan Hughes, 58, from Oakfield in Cwmbran, was left with a fractured eye socket and severe bruising all over his body after five young men kicked and punched

  • ON THE SLIDE!

    ANYONE doubting Pooler's commitment to saving themselves from the drop this season need only look at captain Gavin Lucas' actions on Saturday to see their heart is still in this battle. Lucas' wife gave birth to a baby girl at 9.45am on Saturday morning

  • Fight to stop space invaders

    A SELF-confessed "wheelchair warrior" has set up a campaign to discourage able-bodied drivers from parking in disabled spaces. Ian Williams, aged 33, from Pontypool, has multiple sclerosis and is so fed up with being unable to find a vacant disabled parking

  • Colourful welcome to town

    FIFTY-EIGHT lamp-posts in and around Chepstow will soon be adorned with nine different designs of colourful banners, which are aimed at enticing and welcoming visitors to the town. The banners commissioned by Chepstow Marketing, have been designed by

  • Police chief backs safer carriageway

    THE HEAD of Gwent Police has stated he would "welcome" any measures to make the A40 dual carriageway through Monmouth safer - including reducing the speed limit. Chief Constable Mike Tonge received a letter last week from the chairman of Monmouth and

  • Town hang on for win

    IF MONMOUTH Town are able to secure the Gwent County Division Two title this month, the record books will suggest that recent big wins against the likes of Llanhilleth, Christ-church and Garnlydan had earned them the honours. But those loyal Kingfishers

  • Four golds for Caldicot

    It was a fantastic weekend of results for Caldicot Judo Club who were represented by eight players at the Welsh National Judo Championships in Cardiff - returning with six medals including four gold. The tournament attracts the best junior and senior

  • French links to the chain

    MORE than 50 visitors from Abergavenny's French twin town Beaupreau were fascinated to learn about the history and traditions of our mayor. The party of students, aged 14-17 years, visited Abergavenny Town Hall during their eight-day stay when they were

  • Boogie frights

    "IT WAS like something out of a horror movie." Those were the words of one petrified parent after she saw teenagers with scarves covering their faces intent on causing chaos at a disco at Thornwell Primary School, in Chepstow. The scarf-wearing youngsters

  • Score could be higher

    ABERGAVENNY coach Gary Lawrence was forced to wait until the second half before his men finally broke a tight Nelson defence on Saturday, but later said he felt his side could have won by 40 points. He said: "The score didn't suggest how dominant we were

  • Craig's horses have the winning touch

    THE horses of Coedkernew trainer Craig Roberts are in a rich vein of form with another win at Chepstow Racecourse. And he'll almost certainly be targeting more victories at the racecourse's next meeting which is on 'Easter Tuesday' - bang in the middle

  • Cash boost for theatre group

    MORE than £6,000 was raised at the ball organised by Theatr Ffynnon at the Angel Hotel, Abergavenny. Theatr Ffynnon is the only theatre company in Wales dedicated solely to people with learning disabilities. It holds regular workshops in Raglan, Abertillery

  • Plea for visual artists to join with festival

    MONMOUTH Festival is expanding to include all types of local artists for the annual nine-day event which takes place between July 28 and August 5. However, time is running out for those planning to take advantage of the 'open studio' for visual artists

  • Recycling kids let fingers do walking

    YOUNGSTERS at Llanvair Kilgeddin Church in Wales Primary School have won £350 for their school by collecting Yellow Pages directories in a recycling competition. Over the last nine weeks, 5,022 pupils at 23 schools across Monmouthshire have taken on the

  • Top job for Jo back at home

    Jo Trigg has been appointed as the new manager for the Stroud & Swindon Building Society in Chepstow. She started working for the Society 12 years ago in the town and spent six years there before transferring to the Lydney branch. Her success there

  • Headstones to be tested for safety in cemeteries

    THE sturdiness of memorial headstones at Monmouth cemetery are to be safety tested from September as part of a health and safety initiative. Monmouthshire County Council has an obligation to ensure - as best it can - the safety of those visiting or working

  • Players see red following theft

    AROUND 16 football players and match officials had personal belongings - including wallets, keys and mobile phones - stolen from locked changing rooms on Saturday afternoon. Govilon's Gwent Central League fixture with Usk Town, at Bailey Park in Abergavenny

  • It's... Chico time!

    X-FACTOR favourites Chico and Journey South will entertain up to 10,000 fans at this summer's Pop in the Park event in Bailey Park, the Free Press can reveal. Chico-mania is set to sweep across Monmouth-shire in the run-up to the two-day pop marathon

  • Search on for the ancient trees

    THE Free Press ran an article last autumn about the Gwent Wildlife Trust's attempts to locate the ancient trees of Gwent. The Wildlife Trust offered training and support for volunteer surveyors to scour the highways and byways of the county so that old

  • Bridge to be cut open

    An extensive inspection of the M48 Severn bridge will start this month, after signs of corrosion were found on its sister bridge in Scotland. The bridge, which is 40- years-old in September, will have its main suspension cables cut open to see if it shares

  • Six-in-a-row for rugby youths

    THE Abergavenny under 15s rugby team has triumphed yet again in the Gwent District cup final, giving them six successive district cup final wins. They beat New Panteg 17 - 10 in the final last week at Caerleon, skippered by Joe Evans who has led the team

  • Push for county council to be based in town

    AFTER recent speculation that Monmouthshire County Council could be relocating to Monmouth, the local authority has confirmed that it is one of several possibilities that are being considered after deciding "in principle" to move. According to David Cummings

  • PO investigation after suspension of postie

    A POSTMAN working in Chepstow has been suspended after allegedly leaving post locked in his van for over a week. Many residents of the town were left angry and disappointed at missing important mail. One resident said: "I didn't notice anything was wrong

  • Town on winning form

    ANDREW Smith scored the only goal of the game on Saturday as Monmouth Town overcame league leaders Newport Civil Service to open up the title race in Gwent County League Division Two. Three days earlier, the Kingfishers saw off Cromwell at Chippenham

  • Policy change is criticised

    A Labour member of Tory-controlled Monmouthshire County Council has criticised a decision to change the select committees. The select committees were set up to scrutinise the decisions of the cabinet and were always chaired by an opposition member, but

  • Victory brings respite to relegation woes

    WITH all the bottom clubs enjoying a weekend off in Division Four East, Monmouth put their relegation fears to one side on Saturday with a confidence boosting 39-10 friendly win over Forest rivals Lydney. In scoring seven tries to Lydney's two, and at

  • Letters oppose market

    MONMOUTHSHIRE'S head of planning says the level of opposition to the plans for the re-development of Abergavenny Cattle Market is unprecedented. Almost 3,000 letters objecting to plans to build an Asda supermarket were delivered to the county council's

  • Young side look impressive

    CHEPSTOW RFC played a development XV against St Peter's second XV last weekend, with the youngsters putting on a strong display to win 61-17. Of the 19 Chepstow players used, 14 were youth team regulars, while St Peter's used the match as a warm up for

  • Change in horse law call

    A CAMPAIGN to change a law that has increased insurance costs for equine businesses has been backed by Monmouth MP David Davies. The Country Land and Business Association is spearheaded the campaign to change the amendments to the Animals Act 1971. The

  • No blame for missed spot kick

    IN-FORM Jason Thorne was first to the ball when teammate Gareth Cullimore was brought down in the box midway through the second half, only to put the spot kick over the bar and end Town's hopes of a second win on the bounce, writes Keith Fairbank. But

  • Manager fuming at referee after defeat

    Skenfrith Utd 1 Bartestree 4 MANAGER Darren Brown labelled Saturday's home defeat "laughable" as Skenfrith's good performance went unrewarded. His side had dominated the first half and hit the post twice, but only went in 1-0 up. And with Bartestree pushing

  • Abbey are crowned as division one champs

    TINTERN Abbey were crowned East Gwent Division One champions last Saturday, after they beat Caldicot Town 3-1. A Daniel Savage penalty, plus goals from Tom Marmont and Stuart Mackie, gave Tintern a 3-0 half-time lead. Mark Beresford grabbed a goal back

  • The fast track to knowledge

    WELSH sprinting sensation Jamie Baulch has officially opened Coleg Gwent's state-of-the-art Learning Centre in Pontypool. The £2.77 million facility has been open to students and staff at the college's Pontypool Campus, in Blaendare Road, since last summer

  • Pitch and mutt

    JIM PHILLIS was a popular choice as new captain of Pontnewydd Golf Club's veterans' section this year, but, there again, so was the newest life member - his pet mongrel dog, Deuce. Because when retired engineer Jim and fellow vets took to the course for

  • Race safe from drop

    Llanhilleth Athletic 1 Race First XI 1 On a sunny but windy day at Llanhilleth Park, Race took on one of the in-form sides in the league at present, Llanhilleth. The home side are still chasing honours, with the possibility of the Second Division title

  • United front against crime

    A MEETING between local traders, the police and members of Torfaen Council's regeneration team has been described as a positive first step in the town's fight against crime. Inspector Paul Jackson, of Pontypool police, met with representatives from seven

  • Bad week for Goytre at home

    Goytre 2 West End 4 Goytre 2 Penrhiwfer 2 GOYTRE were only able to pick up a point from two home games this week, first going down 4-2 to promotion chasing West End, then failing to beat lowly Penrhiwfer. Club chairman Paul Greenhalgh admitted West End

  • United strike out quickly

    Two tries scored by centre Matthew Francombe-Ross put Utd back to winning ways against third placed Blaina. Utd took first blood when centre Ross crashed over near the posts and outside half Richard Jenkins added the extras. The away side then scored

  • Taste a difference

    A TASTE of the continent will be coming to Pontypool this week when market traders travel from France, Germany and Belgium to set up shop. Pontypool's first continental market takes place on Thursday, April 13, Good Friday, April 14, and Saturday, April

  • Knauf Insulation Gwent Central League

    CurrenT Division One leaders Tranch Utd stays top following their 3-1 away win at Gilwern & District. Scorers for Tranch Utd were Richard Wakeling, Andrew Hayes and Des Turberville. Owen Edwards got the Gilwern & District goal. Tranch Utd still

  • Free beer winner

    THE doors of the new JD Wetherspoon pub, are finally open and with it comes the announcement everyone has been waiting for - the winner of our "free beer for six months competition!" The Free Press was literally inundated with entries, with the number

  • Students on course for a `plumb' career

    APRIL Prior has proved that anything men can do, she can do just as well. Twenty-seven-year-old April, a medical supplies product manager from Abergavenny, recently attended a plumbing course at Ebbw Vale Campus, Coleg Gwent for two evenings a week and

  • Boogie frights

    "IT WAS like something out of a horror movie." Those were the words of one petrified parent after she saw teenagers with scarves covering their faces intent on causing chaos at a disco at Thornwell Primary School, in Chepstow. The scarf-wearing

  • A class act!

    SCHOOLS in Monmouth may now be on their Easter holidays - but three in particular have egg-stra cause for celebration. The design of the proposed new Wyesham Primary School has been praised by councillors, who passed the building's planning application

  • Pitch and mutt

    JIM PHILLIS was a popular choice as new captain of Pontnewydd Golf Club's veterans' section this year, but, there again, so was the newest life member - his pet mongrel dog, Deuce. Because when retired engineer Jim and fellow vets took to the course

  • Free beer winner

    THE doors of the new JD Wetherspoon pub, are finally open and with it comes the announcement everyone has been waiting for - the winner of our "free beer for six months competition!" The Free Press was literally inundated with entries, with the number

  • ON THE SLIDE!

    ANYONE doubting Pooler's commitment to saving themselves from the drop this season need only look at captain Gavin Lucas' actions on Saturday to see their heart is still in this battle. Lucas' wife gave birth to a baby girl at 9.45am on Saturday morning

  • Score could be higher

    ABERGAVENNY coach Gary Lawrence was forced to wait until the second half before his men finally broke a tight Nelson defence on Saturday, but later said he felt his side could have won by 40 points. He said: "The score didn't suggest how dominant we

  • Town on winning form

    ANDREW Smith scored the only goal of the game on Saturday as Monmouth Town overcame league leaders Newport Civil Service to open up the title race in Gwent County League Division Two. Three days earlier, the Kingfishers saw off Cromwell at Chippenham

  • Town are flying

    AN UNPRECEDENTED third win in a week for Chepstow Town on Monday night has enabled Barrie Vassallo's men to leap five places up the Welsh League Division Three table. One goal in each half at Cwmbran Stadium was enough to see off Celtic, after wins

  • Town hang on for win

    IF MONMOUTH Town are able to secure the Gwent County Division Two title this month, the record books will suggest that recent big wins against the likes of Llanhilleth, Christ-church and Garnlydan had earned them the honours. But those loyal Kingfishers