The Tintern News
Produced by the Friends of Tintern – April 2008
Homing squirrels
I recently moved to Tintern and have brought with me my team of over twenty Russian homing squirrels. They work just like homing pigeons, only on the ground. These amazing animals can find their way home from hundreds of miles away, even from continental Europe.
Their success rate is very high and it makes them as reliable as the postal services when it comes to delivering urgent messages. In the Second World War, homing squirrels were collectively awarded the Order of Lenin by the then Soviet Union in recognition of their bravery and sacrifice in carrying vital messages to the battlefront.
I am very keen to hear from any Tintern residents who would be interested in forming a local Homing Squirrel Group. A programme of activity might include squirrel training, study of squirrel behaviour, social events, and taking part in national homing squirrel races. The big event for homing squirrel enthusiasts is the Bushy Tail Conference and Exhibition at the NEC in November. If sufficient numbers are interested, a coach will be organised from Tintern to visit the exhibition.
Homing squirrels are available for hire under my supervision for one-off message carrying or for longer-term contracts. I have reciprocal agreements with homing squirrel owners in all parts of the UK and in much of Europe. For more information, please call me on 077741 7268604.
Andy Furbelow
1st April 2008
TINTERN WI
Plastic poses the greatest problems of all materials to recycle. Our speaker from Monmouthshire County Council, Simon Antony, explained the difficulties of separating the many different types of plastic. However, it is hoped that in the not too distant future plastic bottles will be collected for recycling. In most of Monmouthshire the recycling of glass bottles, tins, textiles and compostable waste has been established and the system is working well. Recycling food waste is another problem that they hope to soon tackle. Simon’s talk provoked many questions and much discussion making it a very lively and interesting afternoon. As usual our talk was followed by tea and cakes. Since this is mentioned in most reports that I write for Tintern News I thought it would be appropriate to include a cake recipe.
RITA’S DELICIOUS GINGER CAKE
2ozs Margarine 1 Teaspoons Bicarbonate Soda
2ozs Caster sugar 2 Teaspoons Ginger
2 Eggs 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
6ozs SR Flour 8ozs Golden Syrup
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder Half Cup Boiling Water
Filling
2ozs Butter or Cream Cheese, 3ozs Icing Sugar
Method
Cream margarine and sugar. Beat eggs. Sieve flour, baking powder, bicarb, ginger and cinnamon together. Add eggs and flour mixture to cream mixture. Melt golden syrup in pan. Pour in half mixture and stir. Then add other half gradually. Gradually add in water to make a batter mixture. Divide mixture between two 8 inch tins and bake at 375F, gas mark 5, 190C for 15-20 minutes. For the filling cream butter or cheese then add the icing sugar. Enjoy!
On Tuesday 29th April Tintern WI is helping to organise an evening of Welsh Folk Dancing in Tintern Village Hall. It will be a social event when several WIs get together for fun and friendship.
Tintern WIs next monthly meeting will be on Monday 21st April when we will meet in the Village hall car park at 1.00pm. From there we will share cars to travel to Abergavenny to visit the Silk Factory. Members are reminded that there will be a cost of £5.00 for the visit.
CMB
Our monthly meeting was held in the Village Hall on Friday 14th March when Mrs Susie Vaughan gave us the benefit of her enthusiasm and expertise on the subject of “Hedgerow Baskets”. The talk was illustrated with many fascinating examples of her work.
The next meeting will be on Friday 18th April at 7.30pm in the Village Hall when Mr P Lawrence will be sharing with us “The Joy of Painting”.
The membership fee for the year is £5.00 per member, which includes a discount card for Millbrook Garden Centre (from April) which can quickly recover the cost of membership. If any new members are interested in joining contact Bernard or Christine Bradshaw at 10 Parva Springs on 01291 689877 or come along to a meeting. BDB
PC Mike Cowburn has taken over at Tintern Police Station from PC Andy Mason, who has transferred to Monmouth.
The Tintern volunteers continue to operate as previously. The Police Station is generally open, thanks to the volunteers, between 10am and 12 noon Tuesday through to Saturday. You may catch PX Mike Cowburn at the Police Station at other times; if a Police car is parked outside this is a good clue that PC Cowburn is about!
The landslide remains a major concern especially with the likely build up of traffic during the summer months. The situation will be monitored and parking regulations will be enforced if necessary. The traffic lights are likely to remain over the summer months, while work on the landslide area continues.
High tides, causing the Wye to spill across the A466, are another concern. During April the largest tides occur from April 6th to the 9th of April, when the tides are predicted at over 14 metres at Newport. While this is not exceptional, wind and rainfall are also important factors.
In the early months of 2008 there have been several incidents involving the theft of metal items in the Tintern area. There was also a walk in burglary when chainsaws were stolen. One criminal from Newport was checked out in the Tintern area; he was using a Mitsubishi Warrior and pretended to be hunting rabbits. Also beware of Bogus Officials; there have been several incidents recently at Chepstow, Caldicot, Rogiet, Usk and elsewhere in the county.
If you have any messages or would like to speak to PC Mike Cowburn, you can leave a message on 01633 – 642 068 or Email Michael.cowburn@gwent.pnn.police.uk .
Michael Cowburn. PC 32.
Concerned
Angiddy Residents for the Environment (CARE)
Some
updates regarding the Tintern Angiddy Project (TAP Ltd):
(1) TAP has now submitted an ecological report in support of its planning application.
Given the concerns that have been raised regarding the proposed pipeline,
it is very surprising that this document makes no attempt to assess the impact
on the brook of the prolonged severely reduced flows that would result from the
proposed scheme. Furthermore, according to the Environment Agency, large
parts of the survey have apparently been conducted at a time of the year which
is largely unsuitable to give a comprehensive understanding of the ecological
value of the site. When is TAP going to take these concerns seriously?
(2) TAP has recently issued updated drawings for the proposed hydro scheme.
Of particular note are its plans for the Beaufort Pond dam, a listed
monument in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, whose image adorns the TAP
website homepage. The new plans show that the threshold level of two
arches of the dam will be raised to divert water to the other two arches where
an arrangement of stainless steel filters, collection boxes and associated
pipework are to be housed. With the exception of the reserve flow, which
will exit through holes cut into the stainless steel collection boxes, for the
majority of the year there will no longer be any flow at all cascading from the
four arched spillways. Does TAP still believe that its proposed scheme
"will not be very visible" and is sympathetic to its location?
(3) On its website, TAP has helpfully published indicative costs and
conservative estimates of annual benefits for various renewable energy systems.
For small scale hydro, TAP suggests that an installation costing £200,000
could yield a return of up to £25,000 per annum. If so, why does TAP
still think that spending around £300,000 to generate less than £10,000 per
annum represents value for money to the taxpayer?
TAP's application for planning permission is currently under consideration, so
if you are also concerned about the TAP scheme, please write to the Planning
Dept at Monmouthshire County Council, County Hall, Cwmbran, NP44 2XH, quoting
reference DC/2007/01452.
You can view TAP‚s planning application, and the associated reports and
comments, by logging onto Monmouthshire County Council‚s website www.monmouthshire.gov.uk <http://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/>
, and following the planning links. The planning application number is
DC/2007/01452.
Nik Cristinacce, Liz Ashley, Ian Manners, Deborah Manners, David Gibbard, Jan
Gibbard, Terry Bedford, Armaiti Bedford, Barry Saunders, Paul Smith, Jan Smith.
All from Concerned Angiddy Residents for the Environment (CARE)
TAP Project Update
There have been no further developments concerning the planning and EA applications. Consultation is on-going. During the month of March the bryophytes survey was completed with the conclusion that the proposed works will have no significant impacts on the bryophyte flora of the area. Water flow rates remain well above the levels required to support the project.
The first AGM for TAP Ltd took place on 3rd
March. The chairman welcomed members and issued the following statement.
Chairman’s Report for the 1st AGM of TAP
Ltd
I am delighted to give this AGM Report as Chairman on behalf of Tintern Angiddy Project Ltd, which was incorporated on the 7th September 2006 as a Community Project and Company Limited by Guarantee.
Since then I and the other 3 directors have worked collectively and unanimously in the effort to achieve a community owned micro hydro electric scheme that will be financially rewarding and sustainable for the community of Tintern for many years to come. Our first phase and arduous task for the past 18 months, which is now nearing completion, has been the preliminary ground work and feasibility studies to prove that this hydro scheme would be financially viable and have no negative impact on the community or its residents and the local environment and ultimately to gain planning approval.
We have left no stone unturned in acquiring this information. In some cases TAP has exceeded normal levels of research to provide Tintern community, local authorities and other public bodies with the confidence that TAP is a well structured and an accountable community venture.
All TAP directors have made it their responsibility to personally meet with local residents, land owners, local authority officers in the effort to understand and meet statutory requirements or local concerns. TAP has also commissioned specialists to produce in depth reports and although the following information is not exhaustive this shows the level of directors’ commitment towards the project.
TAP has commissioned a full Environmental Survey to assess the impact of the project on the Angiddy Valley. This was undertaken by Wye Valley Surveys who have covered all aspects of flora and fauna, invertebrates with additional experts called in to help with crayfish and bryophytes.
An archaeological survey was commissioned and undertaken by Dr Neil Phillips of APAC Ltd to ascertain that nothing of archaeological interest will be damaged during installation of the hydro project. Its methodology covered the geography and topography of the area plus the historical background. Supporting evidence was given by the British Geological survey, CADW, Monmouthshire County Record Office, all within the framework of Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) Gwent, Glamorgan Archaeological Trust (GGAT), Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments Wales Aberystwyth (RCAHMW) and CADW.
TAP has also engaged a specialist company called HydroGeneration to liaise with the Environment Agency to obtain all the necessary EA permissions. HydroGeneration will supply complete system design and have verified TAP’s own findings on the viability of the scheme, the micro hydro scheme being capable of generating 145000 KWh per year.
The Environment Agency is the major department that scrutinises all TAP directors’ reports. We have met with the local EA officer plus their bio-diversity and fisheries officers. The EA alone will be the body that determines how much water TAP will be able to use whilst maintaining the equilibrium of the Angiddy River.
Further meetings were held with Monmouthshire County Council Highways officers, Rights of Way officers, Planning Case officer and Land Asset Management officer.
Communication have been held over many months with Forestry Commission Wales. Site meetings with the local Forestry commission officer Richard Gable have enabled TAP to gain landowner’s approval from their head office and meet their requests and supply an arboricultural report for the length of the pipeline.
It has not been easy acquiring some of these specialist reports and on several occasions it has been frustrating waiting for replies from public bodies before TAP was able to move on to the next area or report to address; but perseverance has prevailed.
I would like to thank Phil Powell our Technical Director who has spent many hours on the phone, or emails, or at site meeting with electrical and hydro experts, seeking the correct information for components, the right size electrical cables and water pipes and several visits to the architect to advise of improvements.
Morris Jones, our Finance Director has worked relentlessly with sourcing and grant funding. To date we have sought funding from Rainford Trust, Axis 3 Rural Development Plan for Wales, CEDS, SDF, Co-op Bank, O2, Tudor Trust, Magnoxnorth, Biffa, CADW, CFAP etc to name a few. My thanks again to Morris for paying our specialists on time and keeping us within budget.
Norman Williams, TAP’s Marketing and Publicity Director has had the grand task of communication involving, in the past year, monthly reports to Tintern News and the update emails to all the members of TAP, the additional support to myself with letters to public bodies and supporting site visits. Norman has regularly maintained our water flow measurements 3 days a week for HydroGeneration and the EA. Norman has helped with all the information for the TAP website and minuted all the meetings attended by TAP Directors.
Finally I would like to thank members of TAP and residents of Tintern for their continued support for this ambitious project. All Directors have given up valuable personal time to achieve this pioneering community project and look forward to implementing phase 2 and raising sufficient funds to see this project through to completion.
Chris Rastall Chairman for TAP Ltd
Other AGM items
Morris Jones, Finance Director, gave an update on the finances of TAP Ltd, and confirmed that sufficient funding was in place to complete the pre-project surveys.
All 4 directors of TAP Ltd were subsequently re-elected by the members present.
The AGM was concluded with a questions and answers session.
---------------------------------------
Further details about the project can be seen on the web page www.tapenergy.org
If you would like to become a member of TAP, the web page includes an application form which can be printed and posted. Membership only costs £1. Alternatively please contact Morris Jones on 01291 689550.
Please help
Letters in support of the Project could be helpful to the success of the Planning Application. This can be done on line by visiting the TAP web page www.tapenergy.org Click on the Planning Application heading and follow the instructions. Alternatively, you may write to Monmouthshire County Council, Planning Department at County Hall, Cwmbran NP44 2XH. Quoting the reference number 2007 / 01452
Norman
Williams, Marketing & Publicity Director, Tintern Angiddy Project Ltd
Telephone
01291 680016
Email
info@tapenergy.org
Llandogo
Early Years based at the Millenniumn Hall , Llandogo now has funding for 3 year
olds. We run Wednesday and Thursday 1.00 - 3.30pm and Friday 9.00 - 11.30.
Children aged two and a half until 5 years are welcome. If parents would like
more information then they can contact Rachel Davies on 01291 689833. We also
run a parent & child group Monday 9.00 - 10.30 cost £1.50 per session same
contact details as before.
Happy
80th Birthday to Daisy Morgan on 24th
April with love from all her family.
Upon
reading your news letter I found the paragraph regarding the late Margaret
Mathews. I am sorry for the families loss and to let you know that my family
have moved into her house; myself Toni-anne Chislett, Colin Williams and
children Tasmin, Lee and Ellis, we hope that we too can enjoy many years at
this property and that we also can be part of your community and would also
like to thank all the neighbours for making us feel welcome already and that if
there is any event or help needed in the future we would like to help.
Miss T Chislett
Church Services – United
Benefice of Tintern and Llandogo with Whitebrook
St. Oudoceus Church, Llandogo –
Communion Service 9.00am every Sunday
Rev. John Dearnley
Everyone is warmly invited to all of these services.
St. Michael’s Church - Cleaning Rota - fortnight
beginning:
7th
April Janet, Sue and
Barbara
21st
April Tintern WI
19th May Jude Spooner
2nd June Trudy and Nine Phelps
16th
June Ann and Barry
Richardson
30th June Elspeth and Karen
Tintern Community Council – Village Grass Cutting Etc.
The Council is looking for
somebody to keep the grass verges they are responsible for cut and clean during
the year. They will pay an agreed monthly amount for the right person and would
expect that person to provide their own equipment.
If anybody is interested please
contact a councillor or contact the clerk on 01291 625833.
The person would be expected to
commence work in May.
What do you see nurses, what do you see?
What are you thinking when you’re looking at me?
Here’s a crabby old woman, not very wise,
Uncertain
of habit with far away eyes,
Who
dribbles her food and makes no reply,
When
you say in a loud voice “I do wish you’d try”.
Well
here’s who I am I sit here so still
As
I rise to your bidding and eat at your will.
I’m
a small child of ten with a father and mother,
Brothers
and sister who love one another,
A
bride soon at twenty, my heart gives a leap,
Remembering
the vows that I promised to keep.
At
twenty-five now I have young of my own,
Who
need me to build a secure happy home.
At
fifty, once more babies play around my knee,
Again
we know children, my loved one and me.
Dark
days are upon me my husband is dead,
I
look to the future and shudder with dread.
My young
are busy, rearing young of their own,
And
I think of the years and the love I have known,
I’m
an old woman now and nature is cruel,
‘Tis
her jest to make old age look like a fool,
The
body it crumbles, grace and vigour depart,
Now
there is stone where I one had a heart.
But
inside this old carcass a young girl still dwells.
And
now and again my battered heart swells.
I
remember the joys I remember the pain,
And
I’m living and loving all over again.
And
I think of the years – all too few, gone so fast,
And
accept the stark truth that nothing will last.
SO OPEN
YOUR EYES, NURSES, OPEN AND SEE,
NOT A
CRABBIT OLD WOMAN, LOOK CLOSER – SEE ME.
Tintern Youth Club every Wednesday from 6.30 – 8.00pm – Village Hall
Tuesday 8th April – Friends of Tintern AGM – 7.30pm Wye Valley Hotel
Friday 18th April - Tintern VPA at 7.30 pm in the
Village Hall
Monday 21ST April - Tintern WI at 1.00pm in Tintern Village Hall Car Park
Tuesday 29th April -Tintern WI - Welsh Folk Dancing in Tintern Village Hall.
12th – 27th
April. Parva Vineyard - Come and See the Spring Lambs
If you wish to book the village hall please ring 07512
856024 or email: Tintern.hall@yahoo.co.uk.
Please note the following: Bookings need to be made at least 7 days in advance.
Payment will need to be made in advance except for regular users.
Friday 18th April at 7.30 pm - Tony Jacobs - 100 Years of Popular Song. £10.00
per head to include entertainment and refreshments. Bring your own drink.
Saturday 21st June - Midsummer Dance with Wye Jazz. More details to
follow.
Friday 4th-Sunday 6th July - Art for Africa Exhibition.
September 27th - Provisional booking for John Prior's Old Time Musical Hall
"All Together Now". More details and confirmation to follow.
Coffee Mornings held on the third Tuesday of each month at 10.30 a.m. All
welcome.
Yoga Classes now commenced on Tuesday evenings and Thursday mornings.
Contact Ruth on 01600-860648 for details.
For details of all other events or to hire the hall contact Rosemary Stephens
on 01600-860451.
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 May 2008 edition
Items for the Tintern Newsletter can be sent by email to andrew.elspeth@virgin.net
delivered to Wye Barn, Tintern. Items for the May Newsletter should be received
by Friday 25th April, 2008.
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
Tintern News is sponsored by
Monmouthshire County Council Welsh Church Act Fund.