The Tintern News

 

 

Produced by the Friends of Tintern – May 2007

 

 

The Parishes of Tintern and Llandogo

 

Following the retirement of the Rev. Phil Rees, the Bishop of Monmouth has appointed the Rev. Nora Hill and the Rev. John Dearnley to be responsible for Llandogo and Tintern churches and all routine parish matters as from the 1st of June 2007.  The Bishop intends to licence both priests at services to be held on 2nd of June at 2.30p.m. at Llandogo during a Ministry of the Word and at 3.30p.m. at Tintern with the Ministry of the Sacrament.  It is his sincere hope that some villagers would be able to attend at least one service if not both.  

The Rev. Phil Rees will continue to pastor the congregation that meets in the church halls and to respond to other calls of ministry that will undoubtedly fill his retirement.  

Nora and John extend an invitation to both communities for the services on the 2nd of June and look forward to meeting many of you over the summer months.  

 

Be on the look out.

 

I've lived in Tintern for 8 years and like all of us have enjoyed having my home in a friendly, safe and comfortable place. With the sun shining and spring in the air the Valley takes on a new life after the winter, and you only need to see how many visitors come to the village to realise how lucky we are to live in a place that many would choose for a holiday. However, I just wanted to give my fellow villagers a note of reminder. We may live in a place where crime is thankfully a rare event, but we should be aware that we don't live in a bubble. My beloved showroom condition Honda CBR600 motorcycle, which I worked hard for and used every day to get to work, was stolen by somebody on the night of the 2nd of April. The police told me that the crime figures for Tintern had been practically doubled by the event, but statistics aside, please just keep an eye on your property and be crime aware.

 

Matt Reynolds

 

Concerns about the New Proposed Tintern Angiddy Pipeline Project

 

A number of articles covering the Tintern Angiddy Project (TAP) have recently   appeared in the local media, including the April 2007 edition of The Tintern News,  confidently claiming great environmental and financial benefits for the local community. It is unfortunate that the coverage to date provides little substantiation to these claims and there appears to be no consideration given to the impact that such a scheme might have on the local environment and ecology along the affected stretch of the Angiddy Valley. Moreover, fundamental changes to the initial proposal made in 2004 have been made without any effective public debate.

 

The original scheme was to install turbines at four locations along the Angiddy Brook where water would be used and directly returned at source. This was subject to a professional feasibility study in 2004 and was presented to the local community and attracted some support.  As advertised, the new scheme, which involves a 1 km pipeline of 0.45 m diameter to take water from the Beaufort Pond to a site in the woods below Furnace Pond, is an entirely different concept. It should not be assumed that earlier public support will be naturally transferred to the new scheme.

 

In light of climate change, it is logical that enthusiasm for renewable energy is growing. However, enthusiasm to make a project like TAP a success needs to be balanced by careful evaluation and management of the associated technical, environmental and financial risks. History is replete with examples of well-intentioned schemes with hyped environmental benefits which ultimately turn out to cause extensive damage to local ecosystems.

 

 We have substantial concerns regarding the new TAP project.  For example:

 

1)      From our own calculations, if the advertised energy benefits are to be realised, the Angiddy Brook is likely to have little or no residual water flowing for significant parts of the year. What effects would this have on local plant, fish, birds and other wildlife?

 

2)      As currently proposed, a 1.5 m deep trench will be excavated in order to lay the 1 km pipeline. Has the environmental effect of the destruction of tree roots, interference with small springs and ponds, and the possibility for landslip enhancement been assessed?

 

Perhaps these and numerous other related issues have already been considered by TAP members; however, the lack of information or public debate on the new scheme is not likely to help garner public support.

 

Concerned residents: Ian and Deborah Manners, Nik Cristinacce and Liz Ashley.

 

 

 

A letter from Mrs. Janet Saunders

 

There seems to be some confusion caused by the juxtaposition of the publicity from the Tintern Angiddy Project and the monthly report from the Tintern Community Council.

 

I agreed to represent TCC at meetings to which I am invited by TAP. TCC was given a private presentation of what TAP had in mind in January in order to gain the support of the Community Council, which would be advantageous for grant applications. The presentation was excellent, and the idea got the unanimous support of all Councillors present. I was asked to represent the Council, so that when the ideas became more structured, we might know what was going on. Unfortunately, some residents have taken this to mean that my previous disquiet has now been mollified and I have joined the Seen to be Green bandwagon.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

 

I had hoped that the publicity in the Tintern News would be factual. The Public Meeting mentioned was about 4 completely different schemes for which considerable (grant funded) costs had been incurred for feasibility studies at the behest of the AONB.  No such study has been produced for the TAP scheme, though the impression given is that this has been undertaken. Such a study would at least show whether or not the TAP idea is viable.

 

Money is requested with nothing to say what it is to be used for, since this is currently just an idea. As no indication of who can ‘join’ TAP is given, there is every possibility that ‘local support’ will be from outside the community, but used to prove that the scheme is ‘supported locally’.

 

My views on the publicity in the local papers have already been voiced to TAP, as has much of what is said here.

 

Janet Saunders

 

 

TINTERN VPA

 

Our monthly meeting was held on  Friday 20th  April in the Village Hall  when  Mrs Gail Reynolds from Llandogo gave us an illustrated talk on  the butterflies of England and Wales with emphasis on  those  to be found in the vicinity of  Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire.  This included  the White Admiral ,  a rarity  which is to be found in the upper reaches of the Angidy valley.   Concise identification guides to British butterflies were on sale with proceeds going to the charity Butterfly Conservation.

 

Our next meeting is a garden visit to  High Glanau Manor , Lydart   on  Friday 18th May meeting there at  6.00pm.  If any members require directions on how to get there or information on car sharing possibilities  call  01291 689877  (Bernard or Christine Bradshaw).   New members are always welcome ;  if you are interested and would like to know more  come along to a meeting or call the above number.

TINTERN WI

 

We had an afternoon of nostalgia as we remembered Sooty and Sweep, Bagpuss and Emu along with many other much loved characters.  Sue Samuels was involved in the creation of these toys along her path to becoming a proper toy designer.  After five redundancies Sue decided to become self employed and set up her design workshop in Tintern.  We all enjoyed her lively and amusing account of her work.  Sue also showed us her portfolio of toy designs commissioned by well known shops and some of which we recognised.  Sue kindly donated one of her toys as a raffle prize.

 

Our next meeting on Monday 21st May in the Village Hall will be the AGM.  We will meet at 12.30pm, earlier then usual, so that we can enjoy an informal lunch before all the business.  All members have been asked to bring a plate of food as a contribution to the “pot luck” lunch. 

 

Members of Tintern WI were very sad to hear of the problems that the ambulance had in locating a house in Tintern.  In 2005 Tintern WI with the help of John Bathgate, Steve Evans and Bernard Bradshaw completed a map of Tintern for the emergency services.  We were told that the Ambulance Service was grateful for this information and found it very useful.  The Fire Service was not interested in it as they had their own maps.  There is a copy at the Police Station in Tintern and has been of use for lost van drivers. The map is now in need of updating as new houses have been built.  If anyone is interested in doing this please contact Christine Bradshaw on 01291 689877.

 

Mariana-Art Gallery


As readers will know, Mariana has moved to larger premises to East Street in St. Briavels (former St. Briavels Pottery).  The gallery has a much wider range of original art, local pottery from Angie Sayer and super silver jewellery by Chris Warren.  In addition she now runs her watercolour courses from the same venue.
 
Mariana will be holding a JUST FLOWERS! Art Exhibition over the May Bank Holiday - 26/27/28 May 2007, and the gallery will be open from 10.30 - 5.00pm each day.  Why not visit the new gallery and join the locals on Whit Sunday evening  (27th May), for the Whittington Purse and the Bread and Cheese Ceremony?  The gallery will be open on Whit Sunday until the start of the event at the Church at around 6.00pm.  
 
Hope you can come along.

 

Celtic Enigma – an exhibition at the Washington Gallery, Penarth

 

An exhibition of the paintings of local artist, Jane Rhodes can be viewed at the Washington Gallery, Penarth from Wednesday 6th June for 2 weeks.

www.washingtongallery.co.uk

 

 

Do you think Tintern needs a Festival?

 

If you would like to contribute to a Festival in Tintern or to find out more about having a Festival in Tintern – come to a meeting at 6pm on  Monday4th June to find out more.  (Venue to be confirmed).

 

More information can be obtained from Louise McGuinness (Adventa – festival and events coordinator) 01873 736035 or email:

Louisem@adventa.org.uk

 

Friends of Tintern Annual General Meeting

 

The Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Tintern was held on Monday 2nd April at 7.30pm in the Royal George Hotel.

 

All officers stood down. The Chair and Treasurer were re-elected.

 

Committee of the Friends of Tintern 2007/08

 

Chair: Colin Rae

Treasurer: Nigel Hopkins

Committee: Sue Ball, Janet Hill, Tony Parsons, Elspeth Reid (Newsletter), David Bennett (for TCC).

 

 

St. Michael’s Church – cleaning rota

 

Fortnight beginning:

 

7th May            Jude Spooner

21st May          Trudy and Nine Phelps

4th June            Ann and Barry Richardson

18th June          Elspeth and Karen

2nd July            Janet, Sue and Barbara

16th July           Tintern WI

30th July           Hermoine Ford

 

.Diary - Tintern Events

 

Wednesday 9th May – Bingo at the Anchor

Wednesday 16th May – Village Hall Committee AGM – Village Hall 7.30pm

Friday 18th May – Tintern VPA Garden visit to High Glanau Manor, Lydart 6.00pm

Monday 21st May – 12.30pm Village Hall – AGM Tintern WI

Events at the Vineyard include:

Saturday 26th May – Sunday 3rd June – Welsh Wine Week

Saturday 9th June – Sunday 30th June – Potty About Plants

Saturday 7th July – Sunday 22nd July – Art Exhibition

Weekends during December – Nativity with live animals

 

Catbrook Memorial Hall - Events

 

7th/8th July - Art for Africa.

5th October – Fashion Show.

Sunday 11th November – Remembrance Day Service

Saturday 17th November – Race Night

Friday 23rd December – Christmas Carol Service with Monmouth Band

Coffee Mornings held on the third Tuesday of each month at 10.30 a.m.  All welcome.
Yoga Classes now running on Tuesday evenings and Thursday mornings.  Ring Ruth Routh for further details on 01600-860648.
Whist Drives on  Friday 31st August, Friday 30th November, Friday 14th and 28th December.
 
For details on all events or to hire the hall contact Rosemary Stephens on 01600-860451.

 

Advertising in the Tintern News

 

The Tintern News is delivered to approximately 250 houses in Tintern.  If you would like to advertise something in the News the current rates is £5.00 for a small ad./half a page, and £10.00 for a full page (per month).  Please send items to the editor at the address below with full contact details.

 

Items for the Newsletter – dates for the June 2007 edition

 

Items for the Tintern Newsletter can be sent by email to andrew.elspeth@virgin.net delivered to Wye Barn, Tintern, or tel 01291 689456.

 

Items for the June edition of the Newsletter should be received by Tuesday 29th May2007

 

A note from the Editor

 

The Tintern News is a vehicle for the expression of opinion by all members of the Tintern community. While it does not necessarily endorse the views of any particular contributors, it does wholeheartedly support the promotion of lively debate on the development of the village and of freedom of speech in general. However, it will reserve the right to edit any contributions in order to preserve moderation and a spirit of good intent in the presentation of arguments. Thoughts from everyone in our community will continue to be very welcome. ER