FAMILY FUN DAY: We were blessed with a glorious bank holiday Monday and members of the Foresters Gwent Branch 214, together with Sparkle representatives, held a family fun day at Chepstow Racecourse.

The activities enjoyed by the children included football with prizes for goals scored (perhaps the County should try that!), bouncy castles, a Sparkle stall, a Forester Tombola with 60 children's prizes, a "tattoo" tent and face painting.

The sunny weather meant the grass was covered with family groups enjoying picnics. Bucket collections were made for the Sparkle Appeal (registered charity No 1093690).

Together with the stalls, donations totalled £930. The Foresters continue to fundraise for Sparkle. If you would like to help please ring John Letts on 255774 or Pam Lewis on 671154.

CONCERT: The St Julian's Senior Citizens' Club in Orchard Lane is looking forward to a visit from the famous Risca Male Voice Choir on Monday, October 1, at 7.15pm. There will be the usual refreshments and raffle.

SPONSORED WALK: Barclays' pensioner John Tester from Caerleon, organised a fundraising event in aid of St Julian's Parish Church. John's sponsored walk from St Julius and Aaron Church in Heather Road to Caerleon and back raised the magnificent sum of £1,707.

The money will go towards Let The Children Live which is the parish mission project for the year. Monies raised were supplemented by a donation of £750 as part of the Barclays Community Investment Programme.

Jean King, community relations officer, said: "At Barclays we strive to strengthen the local communities in which we live and work by supporting a range of causes from local schools to centres for older people. This is a fantastic example of Barclays' staff fundraising with the local community to achieve something worth while."

The chairman of Let The Children Live, Miss P R Brown, added: "The monies received from the St Julian's Parish Church will be used to help the abandoned street children of Medellin, Colombia."

POLICE SURVEY: Following a questionnaire completed by the residents of the Hove Avenue/Vale View area the police noted that their main concern was speeding vehicles and graffiti in the general Beechwood area.

A report has been submitted to Dave Matthews, of Traffic Management at Police Headquarters, asking for a survey of the area and appropriate action. One of the ward priorities to come out of the recent PACT meeting was problem parking in Sickert Close and Constable Drive.

This is now in the hands of the local council.

Parking outside St Julian's Junior and Infants' Schools is an ongoing problem and the Neighbourhood Policing Team will work closely with the school and parents to ensure that vehicles are parked legally with the children's safety paramount. Patrols have been made at peak times and penalty tickets issued.

The local councillors have long campaigned on these issues. In particular, they have requested pedestrian crossings in Christchurch Road, at the two park entrances, and in Caerleon Road at the Beaufort Road junction and the Moorings.

They have also asked for speed indicators in Conway Road and Firbank Avenue.

POLICE SURGERIES: Monday, September 24, 5pm-7pm, Seventh Day Adventist Church, Rothsay Road; Tuesday, September 25, 6pm-9pm, Scout Hut, Bank Street.