Latest news with #SaraBurch
South Wales Argus
25-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Monmouthshire council outlines support for community assets
Councillor Sara Burch who is responsible for rural affairs and tourism was asked if a community asset team could be set up to help advise communities wanting to take on buildings at risk of closure. She said: 'It would be wonderful for the council to support community led initiatives but I don't think we are in a position at the moment to be able to recruit a new team but fortunately we do have that expertise within the community development team that would be the first point of contact for anybody in the community wanting to set up any kind of new facility.' Rachel Buckler, Conservative councillor for Devauden, had asked at Monmouthshire County Council's May meeting if the cabinet member would set up the specialist team and highlighted how the The Star on the Hill at Llanvihangel Tor-y-Mynydd, in a remote part of Monmouthshire, had closed. Cllr Buckler said: 'I think it's so important to have a place where rural communities can gather. We know there has been an upsurge in farmers committing suicide due to the stresses and strains of trying to make a living.' She thanked Cllr Burch, who represents Cantref near Abergavenny, for her response and said she looked forward to discussing the issue with her further. Cllr Burch said as well as the council's community development team support is available from the Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations and they can also call on experts including from Welsh Government funded Cwmpas which supports cooperatives. She also described the Plunkett Foundation as 'acknowledged experts' that have been supporting community run shops and pubs for more than one hundred years.
South Wales Argus
29-04-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Council issues update on bridge over river Usk at Llanfoist
Planning permission for the bridge connecting the town and Llanfoist was approved in October 2018 and work to construct footpaths leading to the proposed bridge started by Monmouthshire County Council in September 2023. But although at the point it was anticipated the crossing would be completed by December 2024 progress has stalled and there is, as yet, no crossing in place, prompting Conservative councillor for Llanfoist and Govilon, Tomos Davies, to ask for an update. Councillor Sara Burch, the council's Labour cabinet member for rural affairs and tourism, told him at the council's April meeting: 'It's been subject to regulatory delays and to technical issues and delivering that new route across the fast-flowing river, through an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), a historic landscape was never going to be easy. 'I'm hopeful that all of those issues have been resolved and that we are ready to proceed with the project subject to receiving final confirmation of the second tranch of funding from Welsh Government. 'So, I am afraid my response has to be watch this space. We are expecting an imminent announcement from the cabinet secretary for transport and North Wales Ken Skates and as a number of us in this room have had the opportunity to bend his ear I hope we will have an announcement soon.' A spokesman for Monmouthshire County Council said: 'We are set to provide a positive update on the scheme in the near future and remain committed to delivering this scheme.' At the council meeting Cllr Davies had also asked for an update on the council's 'active travel' programme of walking and cycling schemes and Cllr Burch said it has had annual funding it has put to routes across Severnside and an active travel bridge across the Wye in Monmouth. She described the Llanfoist bridge, which will link the area to Castle Meadows as 'perhaps the most ambitious'. The council, she said, has also delivered additional phases of the Williamsfield Lane Links project in Monmouth and phase one of the Caldicott links project converting the disused railway line to a pedestrian and cycling path. Smaller scale projects have included putting in dropped kerbs and crossings.
South Wales Argus
27-04-2025
- South Wales Argus
Monmouthshire County Council gets £8m in transport funds
This money, which cannot be used for road maintenance, will be used for various projects across the county. The funding comes from the Welsh Government's Active Travel Fund, Local Transport Fund, Resilient Roads Fund, Road Safety Capital & Revenue, and Safe Routes in Communities. The projects set to benefit from this funding include bus infrastructure, road safety training, 20mph infrastructure, collision reduction schemes, and active travel. The majority of the funding, £6.5 million, comes from the Active Travel Fund and will be used for the Abergavenny to Llanfoist project. Councillor Catrin Maby, cabinet member for climate change and the environment, said: "It is encouraging to have agreed funding for so many transport projects across Monmouthshire. "Each one will help to make transport more efficient for communities in all corners of the county." Councillor Sara Burch, cabinet member for rural affairs, housing and tourism, added: "We know how important this scheme is to provide safe connections within the community."
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Funding found to reopen army bridge after local anger
Funding has been found to restore a bridge in Wales which has been closed to traffic for seven years. Inglis Bridge in Monmouth which leads to playing fields at the Osbaston estate was built by the army in 1931 and is therefore the property of the Ministry of Defence. The bridge which was well used by residents and parents and children at Osbaston Church in Wales primary school also closed to walkers last year due to concerns it could collapse following further inspection by structural engineers in September. Delays to any remedial work have caused anger locally while Monmouthshire County Council lambasted the ministry for what it perceived as a lack of progress updates, leading to an extension of the closure for another six months once the current notice ends on April 3. READ MORE: 'Our Welsh village was absolutely brilliant. Now we feel let down and forgotten' READ MORE: Drivers warned as eight road closures to hit the M4 But the council confirmed this week the Ministry of Defence has now obtained the necessary funds for the crucial repairs needed to reopen the bridge. It was understood, such was the forecasted cost of the remedial work, that building a neighbouring footbridge over the River Monnow was a consideration. But the council's Labour leader, Mary Ann Brocklesby, expressed her delight at the news that work will now be carried out on the existing bridge. She said: "I am delighted that the money has been found to refurbish Inglis Bridge. The Monmouth community should feel rightly proud that their persistence in demanding a swift reopening has been fully met. We will all look forward to crossing the bridge safely once again." She added that the council will maintain its engagement with the ministry and the Reserve and Cadets Association in Wales to ensure it can "reopen as quickly as possible." Cllr Sara Burch, the council's cabinet member for tourism, also welcomed the news. She said: "This is great news about the funding being found. Since the closure began in October the community has proven how they can use their voice to show how they feel about a key infrastructure. This was evident last week when we opened a form for residents to leave comments on Let's Talk Monmouthshire, receiving nearly 200 responses within just a few days." Catherine Fookes, MP for Monmouthshire, said: 'This is fantastic news for our community. Inglis Bridge has long been a vital route for local residents, whether it's for families and children, cyclists, disabled people, or dog walkers. Reopening Inglis Bridge has been one of my main campaigns since becoming MP and through extensive lobbying of the government I'm grateful that we have secured this vital funding to restore pedestrian access. I will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to ensure that the project progresses smoothly and on schedule. Thank you to everyone who shared their concerns. Through a massive team effort we've secured this crucial funding." Last week a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "We are working with Monmouthshire Council and relevant stakeholders to reopen Inglis Bridge. The bridge is a listed structure which has been deteriorating for some time and a scheme to refurbish it has been approved. We apologise for any inconvenience that the bridge closure has caused for local communities, but public safety is the priority." The MOD has confirmed the intent to have Inglis Bridge reopened by the end of the year.
