Anti-social behaviour

The ages of the youths range between ten and 16. Whereas it is obvious that the majority of them are genuinely bored, decent kids, the activity of a few indicates that some are clearly heading towards anti-social behaviour orders.

Parents, be warned. The activity of the gang is a growing cause of concern and won't be tolerated by the decent people who have to put up with the abuse they are handing out.

If your children are mixing with them why not pay a visit and see what they are getting up to? Evidence is being gathered about the ringleaders and action will be taken against them.

Parental action that can stop this activity in its tracks is far better than action by the police and magistrates.

THE FUTURE'S GREEN: Recently, along with other councillors and council officers from Newport, Cardiff, Monmouthshire and the Vale of Glamorgan, I visited a state-of-the-art refuse recycling plant in London to look at how one part of our largest city copes with the growing problem of processing our domestic and commercial waste.

Over the past few weeks other groups of councillors and officers from the same authorities have visited Hampshire and Shropshire for the same reason.

The London plant I visited gave me hope for the future.

Although getting on for 30 years old (having undergone many transformations and upgrades) the plant operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week, converting tonnes of waste that would normally have been dumped on landfill sites (or fly-tipped in green and leafy lanes) into vast quantities of reusable raw materials including, metals, plastics and compost.

What could not be recycled was burned in a clean and efficient manner, producing enough steam to potentially heat several large housing estates, enough electricity to power a small town and enough compost to grow top-quality vegetables to feed all our schoolchildren without using up environmentally valuable peat reserves.

There were also many other bonus by-products such as chip- board and paper pulp produced during the recovery process.

This plant was not only amazingly clean and tidy, but it was also located in the middle of a large built-up area with few complaints from the neighbours. It even had a small wildlife area within its grounds.

The way we deal with our waste today is vital for our youngsters' tomorrows. Global warming is a real issue, and don't forget that our area is one of the lowest points in the UK. Doing nothing is not an option.

State-of-the-art recycling plants do not come cheap or without opposition. We are a long way from seeing one anywhere in South Wales in the immediate future. However, having seen what is possible makes you realise that if we work together and put our minds to it our kids and our planet can have a great future.

THE GREAT FLOOD: On January 30, 2007, I had the pleasure to attend a commemorative service held at the beautiful St Thomas the Apostle Church, Redwick. The service was to mark the 400th anniversary of The Great Flood, during which an estimated 2,000 souls lost their lives when floodwater raged across the low-lying areas both sides of the River Severn. Residents ofNash, Redwick and Goldcliff all paid a heavy price.

The cause is still subject to some debate. Was it a tsunami due to a landslide ? Was it a natural tidal surge due to the once-in-a-thousand-years flood that could happen again? What is for certain is that a huge wall of water came racing across the land between what is now Wentloog and beyond to the Gloucestershire border, faster that a greyhound could run, deluging everything in its path.

The service itself was a truly moving experience, well researched and a tribute to the meticulous planning that went into its organisation. Much of the spoken service and many of the hymns were sung in the olde English language of the time.

Children from Magor Primary School played a major role in portraying images of those unfortunate enough to have found themselves caught up in the tempest.

What is absolutely amazing is that so few people outside our area are actually aware of what still is one of the worst natural disasters ever to strike the UK.

Well done to the Flood 400 partnership for ensuring that those who died were remembered in a manner that would have made their surviving families proud.

There are many other events organised by Flood 400 that will be both interesting and informative. Two in particular, 7.30pm, March 16, Redwick village hall, Killer Wave, a lecture by Professor Simon Haslett, and 10am on April 16, How Deep Was The Flood? South East Wales young Archaeologist club are surveying the height of the flood.

Other events can be found on www.flood400.org.uk MOORLAND AND BROADMEAD OPEN DAY: Well done, Zena and Sian and the team, for a very successful open day at the MABCA office Moorland Park. The day started with an open house display of the proposed changes to the estate, the proposed housing stock transfer and details of the proposed new community centre.

Many of the residents of the estate took the opportunity to find out just what is happening on their doorsteps.

Throughout the day ward councillors, council officers and police officers popped in and out, providing information and advice.

Later in the day 16 residents put their names forward to be part of the new committee to help set up the management committee for the new community centre.

WETLANDS UPDATE: Two hundred people, including the mayor and mayoress of Newport, attended the World Wetland Day walk on Friday, February 1.

The large gathering split into three groups and were treated to some spectacular treats, including five goldeneye duck and two great crested grebes, plus gadwall, tufted duck, shelduck and curlew.

Unfortunately the star attraction failed to appear. Does anyone know the whereabouts of 70,000 starlings? If you have them, please can we have them back? Don't worry, they will be back soon.

Earlier in the afternoon, Newport city council launched three Newport Wetlands teacher resource packs for primary schools.

More than 50 teachers came to the launch at Nash Community Hall. The packs were produced by Newport teachers, for Newport teachers. LEA science adviser Karen Mills co-ordinated the project.

Great news for our youngsters and future generations.

Now some really great news. A bittern was recently seen by voluntary warden Chris Hurn. This is the first sighting this year, and only the second this winter of this elusive and rare bird.