I GREW up in Caldicot in the 1960s and 70s and as a child

had the benefit of the clean air and open spaces in which

to play.

In the late seventies I moved to the Midlands, first to

college and subsequently work, but when the opportunity

arose to move my family back to Caldicot 18 years ago, I

jumped at the chance.

Of course there has been much development in the

meantime, but the essential character is still that of a

small, friendly town, with lots of open green space to walk

and for my children to play, indeed friends visiting us

invariably comment upon just that.

A few weeks ago I noticed that the large green area

at the southern end of the Spinney cycle/ footpath was

being fenced off, and that gates were being placed at

either end of the adjacent footpath which runs behind the

primary school on Church Road.

I contacted Monmouthshire County Council and was

advised that the green is to be incorporated into the

school grounds and the footpath closed (or 'extinguished'

in their language).

I attended that school some 45 years ago, and the

footpath and green area in question were never part of

the school indeed the school boundary was denoted by a

stone wall (which I recall being sent to the headteacher for

climbing), and though the school was subsequently

demolished and rebuilt I believe this was done within the

previous boundary.

On returning to Caldicot all three of my children

attended the (rebuilt) school so I am aware that the green

area in question is not often used by the school, indeed

there is already a green area within the existing school

boundary fence which the children were always told was

not to be used except in fine weather (no doubt for fear

that little Kylie or Jack should return home from school in

less than pristine condition), so more often than not they

were confined to the Tarmac playground area.

The green area now fenced off is used occasionally

by the school for the annual sports day, and for 'games'

supervised by the teachers when the weather is fine.

However it is also used by local children for playing

including football matches and training, as well as pet

owners exercising their animals.

It is, of course not used by the school during the

summer holiday when the weather is best and when it is

used by the school it is only that part of the green area to

the east of a line of trees bisecting the area which is used

– I have never seen the area to the west of the tree line

(nearest to the town centre) used by the school, and yet it

too has been fenced off for incorporation into the school.

In their response to my enquiry the council stated

that: "The erection of the fence around the school playing

field (and the related extinguishment order) was deemed

necessary to protect staff and pupils from the large

volume of dog fouling, littering and general anti-social

behaviour that has occurred on the field. These hazards

and the lack of adequate safe green space for use by

pupils, has meant that the only viable option, to

significantly reduce the risks associated with these

activities, is to prevent public access to the school playing

field."

Yes, there is an issue with litter and dog fouling in

this area, but that is true of most open spaces in Caldicot,

and if the only solution offered is to fence off these areas

and deny public access then we will be left with no open

spaces.

As for anti-social behaviour, sadly that seems to me

to be the norm in our society today, and I am not aware,

and nor do the council provide any examples, of where

either teachers or pupils have been the victims of such

behaviour when using this green area, and in preventing

public access to this area will the problem actually be

resolved, or simply moved on to another area.

In summary, the logic of taking an area that has

been in dual use by both school and public for as long as I

can recall, and reserving this for the exclusive occasional

use of the former whilst depriving use by the latter,

simply eludes me and I do wish the council would explain

why they think this is a good idea.

Unless of course (and I'm taking a wild guess here)

we are not seeing the whole picture and maybe the plan is

to extend the school, which in turn might free up the site

of the now demolished Green Lane School for housing

development?

I'm sure that if such a plan existed then the Council,

staffed by public servants who work for us, the tax paying

electorate, would tell us. Or am I simply being naive? –

Paul Driscoll, Cas Troggi, Caldicot.