Dear Transitioners
Happy New Year! We hope you had a good break over the Christmas period + are fit for the challenges that lie ahead. For the time being we are going to concentrate on RECS – our Renewable Energy Community Scheme, and on our input into the next Local Development Plan which will shape our future for the next seven years.
To this end we will start with a Members’ Meeting next Tuesday 10 January with Mark Hand, MCC Head of Planning to discuss the imminent review of the Local Development Plan. Things have moved on a great deal since the last one + we want to ensure that sustainability, inclusion, joined-up thinking etc are built in this time. We tried last time + failed – hence totally unsustainable new development such as that along Wonastow Road which will also exacerbate the flooding problem in Monmouth. Please come to hear what Mark Hand has to say – he inevitably has his problems + constraints – but we need to try to work out with him how we can help + improve the current situation. So – we hope to see you next Tuesday at 7.30 in the Punch House.
Over the Christmas period we had three very last minute, ad hoc events staking out + planting trees; we apologise for not getting in touch with those of you that offered to help but there will be many more opportunities. In total, we expect that by the end of the planting period in March, we will have planted over 1,000 trees this winter – most of them courtesy of the Woodland Trust – oak, silver birch, rowan, blackthorn, hawthorn + hazel – but with over 100 donated by you – ash, birch, sycamore, walnut + hazel – all self seeded in members’ gardens. These are particularly valuable as they obviously thrive in the area. We have made a start on drawing up the brief for the consultants for the RECS project + will have a meeting for everyone interested before we go ahead.
A few dates for your diaries:-
Community Canteen: Saturday 14 January at Holy Trinity Church Hall, Abergavenny, 7 for 7.30 – in aid of CHASE Africa – see http://www.chaseafrica.org.uk/ – with storytelling on an African theme by Marion Oughton. Please contact jeremygass@yahoo.co.uk if you would like to attend
Wassail: Saturday 21 January at Old Lands, Dingestow Court, 4pm: The second annual CSA Wassail event – festivities led by Butler Jon Cousins, Mayor of Glastonbury, with music by the band Hot Pot. Soup + bread, mulled apple juice + cider all included in the ticket price of £5 – children + CSA members free. Wassailing is an old tradition whereby the apple trees are ‘awoken’ for spring by lots of noise. Booking is essential as there is limited parking space – email walledgarden@old-lands.co.uk or phone 07814 947956
Members’ Meeting: Wednesday 8th February, 7.30 at the Punch House for a review of our contributions to the Local Development Plan, the Monmouth Place Plan, + other timely topics
And, don’t forget your Local Produce Markets:-
Usk – Saturday 7 January – 10 till 1
Grosmont – Saturday 14 January – 10 till 2
Usk – Saturday 21 January – 10 till 1
Abergavenny – Thursday 26 January – 9.30 to 2.30
Usk – Saturday 4 February – 10 till 1
Grosmont – Saturday 11 February – 10 till 2
We hope to see you soon, hopefully at the Members’ Meeting next Tuesday, 10 January.
Other Transition Treasures are on the website www.transitionmonouth.org (currently being rebuilt) + on the Transition Monmouth Facebook page
Ann Eggleton
Chairman
Transition Monmouth 