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 gave her annual report 2010-11 to the Coleford Town Council Annual Assembly.
This past year has proved to be a very mixed bag – there have been many happy enjoyable successes’ to report but equally so there have been many times when Coleford Town Council has faced many challenges and found it’s self in the forefront of campaigning for their community voice to be heard and taken in account.
With the advent of the new Government being elected we were suddenly faced with many public spending cuts the results of which could affect our community and the whole of the Forest in the reduction and closure of many vital local services.
As Mayor I met many times with the other Forest Mayors to agree ways forward to ensure that our Towns and ultimately the Forest voices were being heard and listened to. We did not win all of the time but our passion and determination won through to ensure that democracy was seen to be done.
Nevermore was this the case then when the Public Bodies Bill was announced and the implications of that bill became evident in the threat it posed to our very own Forest of Dean. Who would have thought that when as a council we had supported and funded the first ever Warren James Event in June, that history was only a whisper away from repeating it’s self later on in the year. Coleford Town Council got behind the HOOF Committee and I know that many of our Councillors joined with members of the community on that cold winter afternoon back in January at The Speech House to voice how we felt. When the long requested public meeting was finally held by our MP it was to Coleford that he came, and the community of Coleford came together and showed him how important our Forest of Dean was to us. A few weeks later after that turbulent meeting the threat to the Forest was no more. Warren James would have approved. But we must ensure that we do not become complacent in this matter and that we keep an ever watchful eye on Westminster.
However we have not always been so effective and during 2010 the decision to close the Coleford Magistrates Court became public, despite Coleford Town Council organising a meeting for all of the Forest Parishes and Towns to express how they felt and numerous objections to the proposed closure being made the decision was rubber stamped and another local facility has became mothballed with people now having to travel to Gloucester and beyond.
Unlike the previous year the new Chief Constable has proved to be very available to us in any concerns we have raised about the proposed Policing reductions and has enabled the Mayors to meet regularly with senior members of the local police management team, there are many changes coming to the way in which the Forest and locality will be policed in the future, Coleford Town Council will always ensure that they are included in any discussions regarding these, always making sure that we secure the best that we can for our community.
CCTV is some say a very important tool in helping people to feel safe, we would agree, however when the District Council took the decision to pass the cost of this downwards to the four towns, Coleford Town Council stood firm and demanded that a proper and informed consultation be taken before we could make any decision regarding this. This has now been achieved and consultation will be undertaken throughout this coming year. Hence forth the CCTV will stay switched on in the towns until this consultation has been completed.
Along with the many public spending cuts being imposed the valuable Citizens Advice Bureau has been badly affected. In Coleford we have always realised their worth and have for many years supported them by providing office space and financial assistance in order for them to keep a vital presence in the town. We have joined with our colleagues from both Towns and Parishes to object to the closures of library and youth facilities, being ever mindful that although at present our own library service is not affected, the additional numbers of people now having no choice but to access our Coleford Library will impact on the availability of service being offered to our own community.
At long last the public toilets in Coleford were refurbished into a modern design, apart from a few teething problems initially, they have been well received from the community and visitors to the town alike.
Car parking charges remain an ongoing issue, it is well accepted by those who live and shop in their communities that the retail units would not be able to survive if these are forced upon us, it would lead to the destruction of the small independent’s who are able to offer a personal and dedicated service to their communities.
Development on Angel Farm is now underway, despite passionate objections by members of the community to retain an area of green open space this will have an immediate effect on the whole community and the Town Council has been veracious in it’s objections, the impact on local services like doctors, schools and the roads infrastructure will be immense at a time when the Government are withdrawing funding to these vital services. What effect this new build will have on our already overstretched sewer system, remains to be seen, although it would seem Welsh Water are carrying out new pipe laying in Newland Street it is debatable by those of us who have viewed their limited information and plans of work how much these will improve what is an historic problem for Coleford. How much better it would have been if Welsh Water had talked to the likes of Councillors Elsmore and Weston who have dedicated their time over a span of some twenty years to bring a sustainable resolution to the hydraulic overload that we experience in times of bad weather.
As a Council we have sought to support individuals and organisations who go out of their way to help others and to bring all that is good about Coleford into the spotlight. Some of these include The Coleford Branch of the Royal British Legion who turn out year after year to raise funds for those injured and affected by both past and present conflicts. This year the Town Council painted the inside of the Clock Tower and the “Poppy Shop” was born, it proved to be an overwhelming success and I am sure this will be a regular fixture in the Remembrance period. This space is also utilised by the Coleford Country Market enabling people to buy locally produced goods within the town, bringing much needed trade on a Saturday morning to other shops in the vicinity.
We have continued to award grants to local organisations and have reflected the diversity within the community by never being afraid to see the potential benefit it will provide.
The Sealed Knot who we invited to commemorate the great battle of Coleford last year have again visited us albeit on a smaller scale to carry out an act of remembrance in February at the plaque that is laid in town, but fear not as a much larger re-enactment event is planned for June and I am sure it will bring in much needed revenue to local business.
This year the Carnival of Transport celebrates its 14th year in Coleford and goes from success to success, the Town Council is proud to be one of it’s main sponsors.
As Mayor I have been invited to many other civic events across the County and surrounding Districts, so it was a great pleasure to be able to host a civic service in Coleford to repay the hospitality that I have been afforded. Mayors, including those from Monmouth and Ross on Wye and the High Sheriff of Gloucester were given a warm welcome which is more than I can say about the inclement temperature both inside and outside of St Johns Church, note to self never hold a civic service in November!!
The year ahead will be filled with change and I am certain that Coleford Town Council will continue to be paramount in ascertaining that it’s voice continues to be heard. Working in partnership with our neighbouring towns and parishes must be maintained if we are to shape consultations and decisions that will affect the whole of the Forest and not just our own community.
Thank you to the Councillors that have supported me during my term, good luck to those Councillors who will not be rejoining the council after the forthcoming elections your hard work and dedication has made such a difference to Coleford. Special mention goes to both the Town Clerk and the Deputy Town Clerk who are the backbone to this council, Councillors come up with ideas and plans but it is Annie and Carolyn who make them happen. Thank you ladies.
Thank you
Cllr Sue Merrkin – Mayor of Coleford.
