Coleford Town Council
Welcome to the historic market town of Coleford with its clock tower. Coleford hosts many events throughout the year, The Carnival of Transport, Coleford Festival of Words, Coleford Family Fun Day and the Christmas Lights Switch on.
Coleford is the hub of the Forest attracting many visitors to walk, cycle and study its extensive local history
The Mayor of Coleford, Cllr Sue Merrikin’s report to the Annual Assembly gives a comprehensive overview of the Town Council’s work during 2009 -2010.
This past year has proved to be no different from the previous year as far as our involvement in local issues and projects. Coleford has on many occasions been the lead voice in discussions and debates across the Forest on issues affecting our parishioners.
Coleford traders endured a challenging year, localised road works at times brought misery to the town centre, however these works were essential, and we are relieved that the reoccurring flooding issues that were so predictable every time there was a severe rain storm should now be alleviated, coupled with better electrical and gas connections enhancing the properties in the town centre. Coleford Town Council was adamant that we would try to support the traders whilst this essential work was carried out and set out to have town centre events that would encourage people to shop locally.
In April we gave away hot cross buns to shoppers at Easter and organised an event for children to decorate an Easter egg, along with an Easter egg hunt around Coleford, this proved to be a great success and the Council will be repeating this on Saturday.
We also are one of the main supporters of the hugely successful Carnival of Transport, and last year proved to be one of the busiest with a record number of entries and visitors, people from all over the West of England now flock to this highly regarded event, bringing essential income for our local shops.
In June Coleford was honoured to host the granting of the Freedom of the Forest to the 1st Battalion Rifles, all who attended will agree that this was a truly spectacular day, bringing together both young and old to acknowledge the commitment and dedication of our great British Army.
In July Coleford became alive with books, books and more books as the blossoming Festival of Words once again stormed into the town, bringing celebrity kudos with Barry Norman and Kate Addie giving sell out talks. This festival is a real community event with schools also taking part in workshops.
The Town Council was extremely disappointed that the Music Festival was cancelled due to excessive policing costs, so in August we launched the first Family Fun Day, this included a market, live music, a street magician and bouncy castle and a very successful dog show. Although the weather contrived against us all who attended this free event were very positive so much so that I am pleased to announce that this year there will be another Family Fun Day and in partnership with the Switched On Committee it will also include a mini music festival show casing local talent once again in the centre of Coleford.
September saw the opening of the first Natural Burial Ground in the Forest of Dean within Coleford Cemetery, we were extremely fortunate to be granted a substantial sum of money from the Gloucestershire Environmental Trust for this project, and I would urge parishioners to go up and see for themselves what a magnificent job our burial committee have achieved not only with the Natural Burial Ground but with the cemetery as a whole.
October saw the second Coleford Treasurers awards, and this year we chose to honour those who serve their community, recipients included members of the Christmas Lights Committee, Carnival of Transport Committee, Dr Charley’s Lunch Club and Mr Pat Bolter who is the longest serving trader in Coleford. It was a wonderful occasion and a great way to say thank you to those that ‘do’ in Coleford.
In November once again Coleford honoured its was dead, with Town Councillors joining the Royal British Legion in their annual appeal to sell Poppies.
Coleford Town Council unveiled a new war memorial this sought to record all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in previous wars in the Coleford area for the first time in one place. With the help of St Johns Primary School children who regaled us with the old war songs the day was truly a fusion of the past and the present, the young and the old. Thanks must go to Cllr Chris Howell for all the historical research that he carried out in order that the memorial be as accurate as possible.
December saw the annual switching on of the Christmas Lights, and once again Coleford leads where others can only follow, it was a great success bringing much needed trade into Coleford.
January was a sad month for this Council as we said goodbye to one of our own, Cllr Chris Lusty, Chris was a Councillor who served his community whole heartedly for many years, we were all so very shocked at his sudden passing and the hundred or more mourners who attended St Johns Church were a tribute to the genuine feeling the community had towards him.
Policing in the Forest hit the headlines when the previous Chief Constable refused to meet the four Mayors to discuss the closures of the police reception areas and other policing issues. However I am pleased to say that the new Chief Constable Tony Melville recognised the importance of communication and within weeks of taking up his appointment came to Coleford Town Council and met with myself and the other Forest Mayors to discuss our concerns. I feel assured that we will now be consulted in any future decisions regarding policing in the Forest.
The end of January beginning of February saw the worst weather in many a year to hit Coleford, snow brought chaos to roads and footpaths, the community struggled as grit bins emptied and stayed empty leading to a spate of accidents on the footpaths which at times resembled skate rinks. The Town Council became ever frustrated at the lack of action by the County and District Councils to take responsibility to grit the town, so we decided to take the matter into our own hands and arranged to grit the pavements and areas which we felt were our responsibility. This confusion can not be allowed to happen again, and the whole ownership of what each Council is responsible for is to be discussed at the April meeting of the four Mayors.
It was also in February that the Sealed Knot Society invaded the town, leading Soldiers and Muskets into the centre of Coleford to mark the installation of a new plaque to commemorate the bloody battle that took place outside the Kings Head in 1643. Again this brought many people into Coleford, therefore benefiting the traders once again.
And so to March, Coleford Magistrates Courts were once again open for business with primary schools from all over the Forest converging for the annual mock trails event. Dignitaries including the Chief constable, the High Sheriff and the three other Forest Mayors also attended.
Alongside all of this, the real hard work has continued, after many years of campaigning the building of the new toilet block will commence in two weeks time, we are greatly relieved … as we hope many others may be in the future!!!
Car parking has again become an issue for us, losing many spaces attached to the old community centre site and the coach park which existed prior to the construction of the new Community Enterprise Centre, we continue to voice our concerns that Coleford needs adequate free car parking otherwise our shops will loose custom to the out of town superstores who accommodate vast numbers of free parking spaces.
The Town Council acknowledges the benefit of the new library to the community, and looks forward to The Main Place becoming as successful as the previous Community Centre.
The proposed improvements to the sports pavilion on the King George V playing fields were given a boost when the District Council granted planning permission, we are currently in the process of finalising funding, so again watch this space.
We have continued to support local groups in our grant aid, supporting amongst others The Time, The Place, Road Safety Campaign, The Children’s Opportunity Centre, Forest Health Forum, Coleford Guides, it is vitally important that we continue to do so as without financial support some of the smaller groups that provide so much valuable work on behalf of the community would cease to exist.
When the District Council decided to close the Tourist Information Office, this Council joined with all of the Parish and Town Councils in the Forest to oppose this decision, unfortunately we were not successful in changing their minds and the office closed.
The Town Council is currently working with the young people of Coleford to help them gain a skateboard park and we have recently surveyed to see if there is a need for a youth shelter and where this would be best placed.
The Council Chamber is used by the Coleford Business Association attendance is good, and this can only be viewed as a positive to future sustainability of our businesses in Coleford.
I would like to acknowledge all of my fellow Councillors who represent Coleford on various forums, committees and groups who give up their time to travel across the Forest and County to ensure that the people of Coleford have a voice that is heard and counted when it matters.
Special thanks go to Cllr Dave Atherley, Deputy Mayor for his undivided support and help to me in attending civic events through out the year.
To Annie and Carolyn without whom we would not function, who both go above and beyond the call of duty, especially when the Mayor invites half of Coleford to come back for a cup of tea after Remembrance Day Service – how many people can we fit in the Chamber?
Rifle Men, Bandsmen, Soldiers and Musketeers, Remembrance Sunday for Heroes laying poppies and minding my tears, Onion Fairs, Christmas Fairs, Taffeta Iced Balls, Fashion Shows to Faddles I’ve been to them all.
Once again I have travelled all over the Forest and County representing Coleford as your Mayor. It has been both a privilege and an honour to do so and an experience which I have thoroughly enjoyed.
The Town Council is aware that this is the first level of public democracy and the old adage that from little acorns great oaks flourish. So it is essential that the residents get involved in the local issues and ensure that your Councillors know how to present your views and influence statutory bodies.
So please contact us or the office (Mon – Fri 10am – 2pm) and express your views.
Thank you
