Recent remedial work at this important historical site has been recently undertaken by the conservation organisation ‘Overlooking the Wye’. The quality of this work has been extremely poor, and has led to complaints by Councillors and local residents. Representatives of the Council and of the local community will meet representatives of ‘Overlooking the Wye’ to resolve this matter on Thursday 15th July.

Councillors and the Clerk met Brian Watkins, of the Highways Department, Gloucestershire County Council, on Wednesday morning, 14th July, to discuss road drainage and salt/grit bin issues.

The road drainage problems, which have been causing flooding over the past year, are located at Mork Corner, around Three Posts Lane and by the Castle car park, at the top of Pystol Lane, and by Loriel Cottage on the Common. Councillors provided an audit of salt bins throughout the parish, with suggestions as to how they may be positioned and filled more effectively. Clarification was also sought for the various responsibilities after the recent landslip at the top of Cinderhill, which caused partial blocking of the road.

Brian Watkins will report back to Council on these issues, and his responses will be published here.

An appeal for a local parish Snow Plough operator and a Snow Warden to assist the County Council in keeping village roads open in bad winter weather will be made soon.

1. This bulletin is from the as yet unapproved minutes, so may be subject to amendment
2. At the June Council meeting, two young residents, Douglas Owen and Matt Wellham, presented a well researched plan for the construction of a skate board park on the playing fields. Some administrative details remain to be sorted out and funding sources must be found, but we hope to discuss further with the Playing Fields Committee to take this project forward.
3. The Cemetery Regulations, especially in respect of Cemetery maintenance and pre purchase of burial plots need reviewing, and will be considedered at the next meeting of the Cemetery Committee.
4. Policing issues – at a recent meeting with the new Chief Constable, more officers on the beat were promised. The Parish Council will consider partnerships with FODDC and the Police to provide CCTV coverage.
5. A new Councillor was coopted. Details will be provided in the next Village News, when the candidate has formally accepted the position and signed the acceptance of office official document.
6. Concern was expressed at the major expansion of housing in Lydney and Chepstow, with its effects on the local infrastructure, especially the A48. The Council would be in touch with the MP seeking reassurance on the issue.
7. The Council would update its records on Parish footpaths and report those which had become unusable through erosion, the encroachment of undergrowth, or for any other reason. The Council intends to adopt a ‘Footpath Watch’ system, and would welcome the help of local residents to keep village footpaths open.

1. The Annual General Meeting of the Parish Council was held on 17^th May. Following the resignation from the Council of Mr Adrian Cooper, Mr Dave Slater was elected Chairman, and Mr Derek Marshall was elected Vice Chairman. The following appointments were made to Parish Council Committees: Planning, Mr Brian Baker; Finance, Mr Arthur Thomas and Mr David Rees; Cemetery, Mr David Rees and Mrs Marie Bird; Footpaths, Mr David Rees and Mr Richard Owen; Quality/Risk Assessment/Emergency Planning, Mr David Rees and Mrs Grace Bensted; Staffing, Mr Richard Owen and Mr David Rees. Mr Dave Slater and Mr Derek Marshall are ex officio members of all committees.

The Parish Council has a vacancy for a councillor for the remaining 12 months of its term of office to fill a casual vacancy.

This councillor will be co-opted on to the council at their next meeting on 21/06/10

To stand for this post, or for further details, please send a brief resume to the Clerk by 18/06/10

Contact: Dave Kent, Clerk to the Council

Tel: 01594 510187

The Brambles, Hyde Lane, Newnham on Severn, Gloucestershire, GL14 1HQ

email: kentnewnham@uwclub.net