The County Council constantly pleads lack of resources but the final budget for the last year shows large underspends in a number of areas. The Audit Committee had only a couple of hours to scrutinise the budget and made numerous criticisms.  Many of us will follow up with further questions.

Policing

Gwent police has now organised Community Policing in a more sensible way and we have PC Malwyn John and PSSO Georginna Care. Both are experienced officers who also cover Llanelly Hill and Gilwern. Many of you will have met them already and will know that they are very approachable and helpful.  They are keen to hear your ideas about what needs to be done.

You can contact them on 01495 233917 or malwyn.john@gwentppn.police.uk / georgina.care@gwentppn.police.uk.

Next PACT meeting 6th August at 12.00 am in the Village Stores.

Planning – Market

The redevelopment of Abergaveny drags on interminably and meanwhile the town is blighted by the uncertainty. Meanwhile on 14th July the Planning Committee will consider the controversial application for a new livestock market and ancilliary works including alterations to the Highway at High House Farm, Bryngwyn near Raglan.

We are still waiting to hear from the Police the outcome of the monitoring exercise on traffic speeds on Merthyr Road. Recently, the new Traffic Inspector has said that she is willing to come to a PACT meeting so I will follow up on the offer.

Work is also in progress to design improvement in the junction at the bottom of Blaenavon Road – but the wheels grind very slowly.

The really good news is that the new Chief Constable of Gwent and his management team are planning to give a much higher priority to Community Policing. I have asked for a meeting with the Divisional Commander for Monmouthshire who has a force responsibility for community policing and hope to discuss these issues with him soon.

I am chasing up a number of issues regarding safer roads with both the Police and the County Council to see what we can together do to improve road safety. The wheels grind slowly which is frustrating but we will keep on keeping on to make our local roads safer.

If you have any ideas or concerns about Community Policing and/or about making Govilon roads safer please let me know.

To contact your neighbourhood police unit (non emergency issues only) phone 01495 233917. Do not use this number to call the Police to an incident. In an emergency always use 999.