MCC are inviting the public to have their say on plans to make Agincourt Square and Monnow Street more pedestrian-friendly, but still open to traffic.  Engagement sessions will be held at the Shire Hall on Tuesday, 16 July (9am – 7pm) and Saturday, 20 July (9am – 1pm).

Congratulations to Monmouthshire Meadows Group for winning this year’s main prize in the Wye Valley AONB Farming Awards, which is for land owners and managers in the AONP who contribute to conservation and make an outstanding contribution to the landscape.

The Brecon Beacons National Park Authority is consulting on its Preferred Strategy for its new Local Development Plan: https://www.beacons-npa.gov.uk/planning/draft-strategy-and-policy/local-development-plan-review/.  You have until Thursday, 29 August to comment on this.

County planners are consulting on strategic Growth and Spatial Options for their revision of the Local Development Plan: https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/planning-policy/planning-policy-current-consultations/.  The new plan covers the years up to 2033 and the options range from no economic growth to over 8,000 new jobs, with a variety of options including dispersal around the county, concentration in the south and even a new settlement.  Responses are required by Monday, 5 August, and there will be consultation on their Preferred Strategy in the autumn.

The final minuted resolution following the meeting on 16 May reads:

That this council will strive to reduce its own carbon emissions to net zero in line with the Welsh Government target of 2030.

That this council will develop a strategy and associated action plans to aim to deliver these targets as soon as practicable.

That this council will continue to review the Corporate Plan, Well-being plan, Local development plans and other relevant plans and policies to support the above.

Publicise this declaration of a climate emergency to residents and businesses in the county and encourage and support them to take their own actions to reduce their carbon emissions in line with a 2030 target. 

Work with partners across the county and other councils and organisations to help develop and implement best practice methods in limiting global warming to less than 1.5 degrees C.

The Town and County Councils have appointed the Arup consultancy to work with them to develop a masterplan for the development of the town.  A priority will be making the town’s main street more pedestrian friendly with better air quality.

The rejection of the M4 Black Route suggests that it might be timely to draw attention to the Gwent Wildlife Trust’s appeal to raise £250,000 to help purchase Bridewell Common marshland linked to the Trust’s Magor Marsh Nature Reserve,  Detaiis at www.gwentwildlife.org/appeal.

Financial uncertainties have decided First Minister Mark Drakeford that he cannot make the necessary commitment to construction of the M4 relief road. But he has also given greater weight to environmental and ecological concerns than the Inquiry inspector, reflecting the Welsh Government’s recent declaration of a Climate Emergency. A Commission will now review alternative ways of dealing with M4 problems, consistent with WG environmental and integrated transport objectives and including fast-track measures to improve traffic flows.  Assembly statement at http://record.assembly.wales/Plenary/5662#A51504.

Neighbouring Newport is consulting on a strategy designed to pull together actions aimed at reducing Transport pollution – more cycling and walking, more EV charging points, planning policy, etc. It can be viewed at http://www.newport.gov.uk/en/Transport-Streets/Sustainable-travel.aspx.

This is the name of a pilot project that will provide the Monmouth area with information and ideas to encourage more bees, butterflies and other insects to populate and pollinate the town’s gardens, meadows, hedgerows and verges. Funded by the Welsh Government with EU money, the project will run until June 2020, via a partnership including Bee-Friendly Monmouthshire and the County Council. Follow @natureisntneat on Twitter and Nature Isn’t Neat on Facebook. There is a survey at www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/nin/ and contact NiN@monmouthshire.gov.uk to keep up with the project activities in the coming months.