Latest news with #MonmouthTownCouncil
South Wales Argus
30-07-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Conservatives defeat Reform to win Wyesham ward by-election
The South Wales East Senedd Member's defection was unveiled in a shock announcement by party leader Nigel Farage at the Royal Welsh Show and resulted in acrimonious comments from some of her former colleagues. But the Conservatives are now celebrating after defeating a Reform UK candidate in a by-election for the Wyesham ward on Monmouth Town Council. Ms Jones had previously represented the area on Monmouthshire County Council. It is the second community council by-election in Monmouthshire in a week in which the Conservatives have seen off the challenge from Reform UK with two more by-elections, in separate Monmouthshire villages, to be held over the coming fortnight. Conservative candidate Xavier Turner topped the poll in the election to the volunteer council while Reform's Robert Kavanagh came in last behind independent candidate Jem Lin Jenkins-Jones. The 22-year-old winning candidate said: 'I'm incredibly grateful to the residents of Wyesham for putting their trust in me. I'm ready to work and make sure your voices are heard.' Councillor Richard John, who leads the Conservative opposition group on Monmouthshire County Council, described the new community councillor as a 'breath of fresh air' and said his victory means the county, which voted to remain in the European Union at the 2016 referendum, is still 'Reform free'. 'Reform were confident of winning in Wyesham, a ward previously represented by their Reform MS, so coming last is quite a humiliating defeat,' said Cllr John. 'Residents could clearly see there's no substance behind their soundbites and they don't offer any solutions to the challenges experienced by families in Monmouthshire. Monmouthshire remains a Reform-free zone.' Ms Jones had represented Wyesham on Monmouthshire County Council, as part of the group led by Cllr John and previously current Conservative MS for Monmouthshire Peter Fox, before stepping down at the 2022 council elections. The county council seat was won by independent Emma Bryn, who defeated both Labour and Conservative candidates. During the campaign Ms Jones had posted a photograph of herself with Cllr John and other local Conservative activists and endorsed the Tory candidate as 'a strong local voice'. It is understood Ms Jones hadn't campaigned in her former ward since switching to the Reform party. An X post shared by Laura Anne Jones of her and campaigning with then Conservative colleagues in Wyesham during the July, 2025 by-election campaign. The town council by-election was caused by the resignation of Labour councillor Alice Fletcher. Though town and community councils aren't run on political lines councillors can stand under party banners and Monmouth Town Council has 19 members from five wards which have the same boundaries as the county council wards. Monmouth Town Council has eight independent members, six Labour members and five Conservatives including Cllr Turner. A by-election is due to be held in the Leechpool ward to Portskewett Community Council on Thursday, July 31 with only a Reform UK and a Conservative candidate nominated, while both parties, and two unaffiliated candidates, will contest the Goytre ward election to Goetre Community Council on Thursday, August 7. Any registered voter, aged 16 or over, can vote in council elections and there is no requirement to show voter ID to do so. Result Monmouth Town Council, Wyesham ward by-election JENKINS-JONES Jem Lin Independent: 184 KAVANAGH Robert James Andrew Reform UK: 124 TURNER Xavier John Pierre Local Conservatives: 201 (Elected) Spoilt: 2 Turnout: 30 per cent
South Wales Argus
11-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Infill housing on Beaufort Road, Osbaston approved
Permission was first given for a two-storey home in the garden of property, named Rosemary on Beaufort Road in Osbaston, Monmouth in 2020 with approval to demolish the original house and build a replacement granted in 2022. Planning officer Phil Thomas said those permissions remain 'extant meaning they can be implemented' but said the new designs, which needed approval from Monmouthshire County Council's planning committee, reduced the height and width of the property fronting Beaufort Road and which is flanked on either side by existing residential properties. As a result a new access for the home in the back garden will be created between it and neighbouring property, Downlea. Access for the front property, on plot one, would be on the other side of the house. The committee was told the garden house would be now be at a greater distance from a neighbouring property, on Charles Close and maintained at the same distance as the previously approved plans from another and both homes will have off-street parking. The bottom end of the site won't be developed and there will be no lighting on that part to protect wildlife. There were no objections from statutory consultees such as highways and Mr Thomas said: 'The plans are acceptable infill adhering to the suburban nature of this area.' Committee chairman, Caerwent Conservative Phil Murphy, said Monmouth Town Council had objected but said when it was explained there were existing permissions 'they seemed to understand a bit better what was going on.' Labour's Croesonen member Su McConnell said: 'It is a more modest proposal than the original. I understand people are unhappy but they are getting less development than they would have got with the planning permission already approved.' Independent councillor for Wyesham Emma Bryn asked if grasscrete, which allows grass to grow in gaps between concrete casts, could be used for the extended driveway she said: 'That would improve biodiversity and reduce the noise from vehicles.' She also said retaining and improving the existing hedgerows boundaries would protect privacy which neighbours had raised as an objection. Mr Thomas said there would be a condition on soft landscaping and a condition that hard surfacing would have to be agreed could be added. The application including the additional condition were approved unanimously. Permission is subject to a section 106 legal agreement that will require applicant, a Dr R Handley of Levitsfield Close, Monmouth, to make a contribution of around £9,600 towards off site affordable housing in the area.
