INSPECTORS BLOG: A Message from Monmouthshire North Inspector, Huw Jones

Hello and welcome to my latest blog. We’ve had a busy few weeks in Monmouthshire North, with lots of action taking place to address your concerns. Many of you will now know that we have now closed the barriers at Fairfield car park, to help stop the anti-social use of cars that we often see there. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Over the years, residents have told us about drivers congregating in the car park, revving their engines and playing loud music. To tackle this, car park barriers are now being closed between 10pm at 6am the following morning. The purpose is to close the main part of the car park but still give access to the top part by the rugby club, providing over 80 car parking spaces. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

We have been working closely with Monmouthshire County Council to deal with this issue and we have discussed this option with those who use the car park responsibly to ensure that this does not negatively affect them in any way. The closure is initially in place for three months and we will then review the situation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

We’ve also been working closely with Monmouthshire County Council to ensure that licensed taxis are safe and secure. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On Saturday 13th February 2016, an Abergavenny Officer teamed up with a Monmouthshire County Council Licence Enforcement Officer to carry out licencing checks on taxis in Abergavenny, Monmouth and Usk. In total 27 taxis were stopped and were checked by the Police for road worthiness, whilst Monmouthshire County Council Enforcement Officers conducted checks to confirm that the drivers were licenced and complying with their conditions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Of the 27 stopped, four were issued points on their taxi licence for non-compliance – one for not having a spare wheel or repair kit, one for not having a fire extinguisher and two for not having their identification badges with them. Two drivers were warned for number plate bulbs missing and two were warned for their tyres being very closed to the legal limit. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

One driver was found to be operating a licenced vehicle without a valid licence to carry paying passengers and both he and his company will be prosecuted by Monmouthshire County Council for these offences. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Please be aware that we’ve had a number of burglaries across Monmouthshire where cars, specifically Audis have been stolen. Please ensure your homes are secure at all times, even if you are just popping out for a few minutes. A simple home alarm system makes a good deterrent. Always take your car keys with you, leaving your spare keys in a secure and creative place, somewhere that a would be burglar wouldn’t think to look. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Stay safe ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Inspector Huw Jones ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​