JANUARY

The Chepstow parents of a woman killed shortly before Christmas spoke of their grief and said they felt as though they were “yet to wake up from a bad dream”.

A Monmouth retailer refused to pay increased business rates which he described as an “indiscriminate death sentence” for the high street.

Plans to open a new amateur boxing club in Monmouthshire were put back on track after its committee secured a new venue.

Pigeons became the talk of Caldicot town centre with local councillors aiming to crack down on the public feeding them.

A Chepstow woman said he confidence had “gone to bits” after she was “grabbed” by a man while walking home from work.

About 20 rail users protests the first day of the rail price rise in Abergavenny.

Residents in sheltered accommodation in Chepstow expressed their anger after finding out their common room will be “rented out” to local groups for meetings and events.

FEBRUARY

In the first week of the month Monmouthshire was among several local authorities to confirm its involvement in the £1.2 billion Cardiff Capital Region City Deal.

Businesses across the county spoke out against “unfair “A-board rates enforced by the county council.

Family and friends of a Caerwent teenager who died from toxic shock syndrome prepared to take on the longest zip wire in Europe to raise money in her memory.

Abergavenny church-goers launched a digital crowdfunding platform to raise £37,000 to save the roof of the 13th century St Peter’s Church.

A fraudulent Chepstow businessman who stole nearly £74,000 from tenants was told he would only have to pay back £1.

Monmouthshire County Council put its controversial A-board policy on hold following trading backlash across the county.

MARCH

On the first day of the month fears were expressed that changes to a bus service from Newport to Chepstow would “put lives at risk”.

A protest was held at the start of the public inquiry into the proposed £1.1 billion M4 relief road, which could be built between Magor and Newport.

The Duke of Cambridge launched a “first of its kind” award in his name at Llanfoist Fawr school in Abergavenny.

Members of Caldicot Town Football Club were left devastated after cash, mobile phones, wedding rings and other valuables were stolen from their changing rooms while they were on the pitch.

Rugby fans travelling back by train from the Six Nations clash between Wales and Ireland were treated to the sweet sounds of a Monmouthshire farmer’s impressive singing voice.

Police confirmed that the human remains found in Wentwood Reservoir are those of Sandie Bowen, who had been murdered 20 years ago.

Mrs Bowen disappeared from her Llandogo home in 1997 and a year later, her husband Michael Bowen was convicted of her murder – despite no body being found at the time.

One of Monmouthshire’s premier golf venues, Dewstow Golf Club, closed its doors after 30 years amid plans to turn it into a private home

APRIL

The month started with the news of traders counting the costs after shopfronts in Caldicot were smashed by vandals.

Plans to redevelop Monmouth leisure centre to include a five-lane swimming pool were approved amid claims that it would not be built to the expected size.

One councillor said: “Monmouthshire started out with aspirations of an Olympic pool and ended up with a paddling pool”, a claim staunchly denied by cabinet.

It was announced that popular fundraiser Hoggin’ the Bridge, which draws thousands to the streets of south Monmouthshire, would be moving from Chepstow Racecourse to Caldicot Castle.

A veteran British endurance cyclist, Mike Hall, who lived in Monmouthshire, died after being hit by a car during a race in Australia.

Magor became ‘autism aware’ after being inspired by a campaign by six-year-old Charlie Morgan and his mum Lisa.

The story of a Monmouth woman who had her house transformed by DIY SOS after suffering a serious stroke was broadcast on TV.

Calls were to made for Morrison to change the “ugly” design for the planned store in Abergavenny.

Campaigners had described the building on the former Cattle Market site as a “faceless box”

Chepstow teenager Josh Davies said he was “overwhelmed” by the response to a fundraising campaign to help pay for the funeral of his father Steven Pidden, who died suddenly.

And two Caldicot have families spoke of their “heartbreak” after the graves of their loved ones were targeted by thieves.

MAY

Nearly every political party in pledged to scrap the Severn Bridge tolls upon their re-election in the upcoming General Election.

Local elections saw Conservative-majority council elected in Monmouthshire, with notable casualties taken from all sides.

Motorist Nigel Sweeting, who caused the death of Caldicot father-of-two David Evans in a fatal crash on the M4, was jailed for seven years

Nearly 400 people took part in the annual Devauden Races, setting a new record attendance for the event.

It was announced that the Tour of Britain would pass through Monmouthshire when it visited Wales for the first in September.

Grieving families in Abergavenny signed a petition after being ordered by Monmouthshire County Council to remove precious ornaments from the graves of their loves ones.

The policy was later changed after the petition attracted hundreds of signatures.

Rock band Feeder announced that they would be returning home to Chepstow for a special concert in the summer. Singer Grant Nicholas had grown up in the town.

Further calls to reopen the minor injuries unit at Chepstow Community Hospital were made by Cllr Paul Pavia due to increased demand.

Gilwern residents raised concerns that the A465 Heads of the Valleys roadworks had turned their village into a “rat run”.

The future of Caerwent post office seen as “the heart” of its community looked uncertain with the postmistress stepping down.

Monmouthshire County Council were criticised for their support of the proposed M4 relief road by former council leader Mike Smith.

Tributes were paid in Monmouthshire to Rhodri Morgan, the nations’s longest serving first minister who died aged 77 on May 17.

JUNE

Conservative candidate David Davies was re-elected as MP for Monmouth with a convincing 77 per cent share of the vote, despite less than convincing returns for his party elsewhere in the UK. Labour’s Jessica Morden retained her seat in Newport East.

There was anger as 106-year-old Monmouth woman, Amy Winifred Hawkins, was denied from voting in the General Election.

Residents in Monmouthshire slammed signs that popped up on roads throughout the county, calling them “garish” and “dangerous” to both drivers and pedestrians.

Moving tributes were paid to the victims of terror attacks in Manchester and London as dozens gathered at a vigil in Caldicot.

Tributes were paid to a “monumental figure in the visual arts and crafts in Wales” who died following a car crash

Peter Francis Goodridge, of Abergavenny, was involved in a single-vehicle crash on a roundabout in Llanfoist on June 1.

Concerns were raised over the state of Caldicot’s skateparks, with potholes, cracks and an exposed steel rail potentially endangering skaters.

Plans to demolish and relocate a former vicarage in Magor in line with the M4 relief road plans were debated at council.

The local authority approved the Grade II listed building demolition, subject to the £1.1 billion road going ahead.

Monmouthshire residents appeared in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, with Jenny Barnes receiving an MBE for her work in improving disabled people’s access to public spaces in the county.

Former National Assembly of Wales Clerk Clair Clancy, of Usk, and Hilary Boulding of Abergavenny, were also made Dames.