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A SHUTTERED high street newsagent’s has been given a new lease of life – as a colourful new charity shop.

Bargain hunters gathered at the doors of the former Chepstow News on the high street this week for its re-birth as a new St David’s Hospice Care shop.

The shop, close to the Chepstow town council offices and historic arch, saw a queue of people waiting for its opening.

Items of furniture on display in the window were snapped up as soon as the doors were opened by the Newport-based St David’s Hospice Care chief executive Emma Saysell.

Mrs Saysell said: “It was lovely to see people waiting for the doors to open and to have such brisk sales straight away.

“We’re really pleased with our lovely new shop.

“It has a prime position on High Street, replacing our shops on Moor Street and Thomas Street with more space than both combined.

“The new shop, which has storage space on the first floor, is larger than the combined space of the other two shops.”

St David’s Hospice Care has 37 shops across South Wales, including another shop in Chepstow in Bulwark, a depot in Cwmbran and its largest outlet in Caldicot.

The central depot, which receives donations of clothes, furniture and bric-a-brac, is now being opened from 10am to 3pm on Saturdays to accept charitable contributions.

INTEREST in Newport’s iconic Chartist mural remains as keen as ever almost six years after the structure was demolished to make way for the Friars Walk shopping centre.

Newport cobbler Kelvin Reddicliffe is ensuring the memory of the colourful mural remains alive by selling framed prints of parts of the once unique Newport structure.

The 64-year-old social historian and manager of Timpson’s Shoe Repairs sells the art work in aid of Newport charity St David’s Hospice Care. He estimates he’s sold £18,000 worth of prints over the past six years which he’s donated to charity.

But Mr Reddicliffe, who has a permanent display of the work on the walls of the cobblers, will no longer sell the prints from the shop as he retires next spring after fifty years.

One of Newport’s best-known characters, Mr Reddicliffe, who most recently handed over £900 to St David’s Hospice Care, finally hangs up his cobblers hammer in February next year after a half century at the same shop.

He said: “Interest in the Chartist Mural remains as hot as ever.

“I have sold my pictures to people from across the country and from all corners of the world.

“I intend to carry on making and selling the prints for St David’s Hospice Care in retirement. In future I’ll have more time and will be selling the prints through Arnold’s Electrical on Skinner Street.”

Mr Reddicliffe, who ‘rescued’ a piece of the original Chartist mural, said: “I started making and selling the prints to keep the history of the Chartists mural and what it represented, alive.

“There’s never a day goes by when I’m not asked about it or talk to customers about the mural. It’s unique to Newport and its history must be preserved.”

He said he wouldn’t have been able to produce the prints without the help of Arnolds Electrical, Kriminal Records, Len Cole and Robert Gibbs, Roger Thompson, Pat Drewett and David and Danielle Mayer and Oliver Budd who gave him permission to reproduce his late father’s work, The Chartist Mural and also Sir John Timpson.

“These people have helped me to help others,” he said.

Tania Ansell, from St David’s Hospice Care who received the latest donation, said: “Kelvin works tirelessly for St David’s Hospice Care. Over the years he has raised many thousands for the charity. We really can’t thank him enough for all that he has done and what he continues to do for our community.”

St David’s Hospice Care is based in Malpas.

For more details about the charity and how you can help, visit stdavidshospicecare.org

A Torfaen business park has expanded its caravan and self storage space, to cope with increased demand.

Mamhilad Park Estate, on the outskirts of Pontypool, is home to some 150 occupiers and has seen on-site employment numbers rise steadily over the past three years to now stand at 1,800.

The estate owners Johnsey Estates and users of the park are reaping the rewards of cutting edge, innovative thinking for ongoing use of the park’s variety of space.

The original caravan storage facilities, established utilising previously vacant land around the park, are now fully occupied.

Due to high demand, additional new space has now been developed.

Self storage at the business park is another innovation which has proved a real success.

All the existing space, undercover in one of the historic buildings, is now occupied. Therefore, an area for Mamhilad Self Storage phase two has been cleared and developed at an alternative location on the park.

James Crawford, chief executive officer of Johnsey Estates, said: “We’re very pleased with the success of the caravan storage and also our self storage offering. Initial research suggested that there was a pent up demand for both and this has been proved in practice.

“We’ve cleared and prepared a piece of underutilised land to the north west of the site for caravan storage and self storage. We’re bringing in the previously used containers at quite a rate. Almost as they arrive the units are being reserved by potential occupiers.”

A total of 40, of the 20ft by 8ft containers, located in the vacant, covered former industrial space on the park have now been taken which prompted the need to provide more of the containers.

Alex Macauley, who manages the self storage business on the estate, said: “Our self-storage proposition has proved a great success. The units cost a flat £100 a month to rent. The provision we offer is 24/7 access, CCTV site security and sensor LED lighting. The self-storage initiative fits in with our strategy of maximizing value from our property assets.”

“The original bank of self storage units are full and we have a list of clients lined up to take the space provided by the latest units to arrive.”

Marty Jones, owner and managing director of MJ Events Security, was the first business to take space in the storage units.

Marty, who manages major events of gatherings throughout the UK said: “We use two units for the business. We were the first to sign up when the units first arrived on site. We use the storage to keep clothing and equipment that we used as part of the event s business. The fact that the storage units are here on site is a real bonus for us as we have quite a bit of stuff which we need to store.”

The business park set in attractive countryside on the borders of Torfaen and Monmouthshire on the A4042 dual carriageway mid-way between Newport and Abergavenny.

A Gwent bungalow which has been extended and improved over the years to provide accommodation for three generations of living is on the market with Paul Fosh Auctions.

Valley View, at Penrhibicca, near Newbridge, (Lot 34) has a guide price of £399,000-plus.

Ryan Saunders, who is handling the sale for Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions, said: “This unique property was originally set up as a bungalow but has been largely extended and improved over the years.

“The house certainly offers flexible living and is currently arranged to provide accommodation for three generations of family, each with their own private kitchen and bathroom.

“As the property is arranged in this way it would be suitable for multi-family living or it could lend itself to a multitude of commercial uses such as setting up an office from home, holiday lets, or similar, all subject to planning.

“The property is set within about a half an acre of grounds. The immaculately presented gardens create an idyllic setting with newly installed patio area with water feature.”

This property and more than 60 others will be offered for sale at the next Paul Fosh Auctions sale which is to be held on Thursday, October 21 at The Cardiff North Hotel, Cardiff, starting at 5pm.

A GWENT supply teacher has been buzzing after being allowed to keep a set of beehives in a secluded area of a Torfaen business park.

Steffan ap Breian, from Pontypool, keeps a group of nine beehives in a naturally overgrown, nectar full area of Mamhilad Park Estate, Pontypool.

Mr ap Breian has been keeping bees for more than a decade, and now splits his time between work as a teacher and bee-keeping.

He said: “We initially placed hives at Mamhilad Park Estate in 2015.

“During that time the number has grown to nine hives.

“There’s probably a limit of 10 hives for the space.

“I really hope we can retain this location for our bees as it’s perfect for bee-keeping surrounded, as it is, by everything that bees like, countryside, grassland, bushes, trees, wildflowers, vegetation and peace.

It’s wonderful that we’re allowed to keep bees on the park and underlines the owner’s environmental awareness and desire to be green in all sorts of ways, not just by adopting ‘traditional’ measures.”

Mr ap Breian keeps his bees as part of Mêl Torfaen Honey, a not-for-profit company that has hives at 25 sites around the area.

The hives are home to around 50,000 bees each, with 80 of its hives being productive and the rest being breeders.

The hives at Mamhilad Park Estate are home to probably around 500,000 bees.

In 2017 three new hives were acquired in the Trefonnen/Nash area near Newport.

Because of their proximity to Newport Docks, they were designated as enhanced sentinel hives.

Sentinel Hives are important in the control of the spread of exotic pests into the bee population of the UK.

Such hives are an important part of the National Bee Unit’s (NBU’s) apiary inspection programme. The hives are inspected more rigorously and more often than other hives so that any potential threats to the native bee population is safeguarded.

Mr ap Breian said: “We have hives on many sites between the sea wall at Nash then following the Usk River all the way up past Usk town to Raglan and beyond to Chepstow.”

Mêl Torfaen Honey uses the bees to produce honey, mead, candles, polish, wine and honey beer and each hive can produce 50lbs or more of honey each harvest.

Russell Nutman, Johnsey Estates’ property manager, said: “We’re very pleased to have these hives on the park. It is great addition to our green environment.

“It’s wonderful to know the trees, shrubs and flowers are being pollinated by the bees who take nectar back to the hive to make Mamhilad Park Estate honey.”

You can find Mêl Torfaen Honey on Facebook (@meltorfaen), twitter (@beestorfaen), and you can email them at meltorfaenhoney@gmail.com

Mêl Torfaen Honey also provide a ‘swarming’ service.

Swarming is a natural phenomenon when the bees in the hive allow a new queen to develop and the colony splits into two smaller colonies.

At this point one group of bees leave the hive looking for a new home. The usual swarming season is between April and early August.

It is also a time when the public get concerned and can cause panic.

Mȇl Torfaen Honey can help. They are authorised by Torfaen County Borough Council and Newport City Council to rescue honeybee swarms.

The bees will fly and eventually land on a tree or a post and hang in the shape of a rugby ball.

Some bees will be flying from the swarm because they are looking for a suitable place for the colony to fly to and set up a permanent home. This can be an empty hive, chimney or a cavity in a tree.

Mel Torfaen Honey will only collect honeybees and recommend contacting the council for issues reading wasps or hornets.

Mamhilad Park Estates is striving to become more environmentally friendly.

In addition to the introduction of these beehives, there is also a lift-share scheme and an on-site café, gym and children day nursery to reduce the number of cars driving in and out of the park daily.

Hebron Hall, a former chapel on Monnow Street, Monmouth, which dates from 1864, is being sold at auction this month.

The historic property, which is being sold by Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions, is listed with a guide price of £185,000-plus.

Ryan Saunders, who is handling the sale for the auction house, said: “The substantial former chapel has direct access onto Monnow Street and also has access to the rear to a large car park.

“The property and land would be suitable for development as apartments, for office use or retail subject to obtaining the necessary planning consent.

“The gated former chapel is located on Monmouth’s main shopping street and is therefore close to a huge range of major retailers, independent shops, restaurants, supermarkets and has good road links.”

The property will be offered for sale at Paul Fosh Auctions on Thursday, September 12, at The Cardiff North Hotel, Llanedyrn, Cardiff, starting at 5pm.

A HISTORIC historic 16th century former pub in the heart of Monmouth which called last orders some years ago has been put up for sale.

The sprawling former alehouse, most recently known as The Vine Tree but earlier as The Coach and Horses, has served centuries of drinkers and travellers on Monmouth’s main thoroughfare, Monnow Street, which stretches from Shire Hall to Monnow Bridge.

The property is set over three floors and is set within a large plot including a good-size rear garden providing side and rear access.

A timber storage unit, large former toilet block, off-road parking are also at the rear of the building.

The property has an entrance hall, former bar areas, lounge area, two additional rooms and a kitchen on the ground floor. On the first floor are six further rooms and a bathroom and on the second floor are four more rooms.

Steeped in history, 57 Monnow Street, Monmouth, is being sold this month (September) by Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions and is listed with a guide price of £620,000-plus.

Ryan Saunders, of Paul Fosh Auctions who is handling the sale, said: “This former public house, which has substantial parts dating from the 16th century, is in a prominent position on the high street in Monmouth. It’s a significant, historic building in the heart of the border town which must have witnessed all manner of comings and goings in the county town over the past centuries.

“Most recently the property has operated as the All Our Yesterdays shop selling antiques, jewellery, trinkets, retro collectables and vintage clothing.

“This generous sized property would offer huge potential for conversion, subject to planning. Planning permission has previously been granted for the property to be converted to a pair of shops on the ground floor with a separate flat above.”

The pub, originally two buildings, was one of the longest surviving inns in the town being renamed The Vine Tree in 1820.

In 1828 records show that the former pub was made up of a brewhouse, stables, cellars and gardens. When the Vine Tree was sold in 1842 details of occupations of people living in the lane at the rear of the inn revealed a gunsmith, a cabinet maker, a tailor, a flax dresser, a baker, a glazier and a tea dealer.

The property will be offered for sale at Paul Fosh Auctions on Thursday, September 12, at The Cardiff North Hotel, Llanedyrn, Cardiff, starting at 5pm.

A Gwent smallholding with eight acres could prove the perfect opportunity for grabbing a piece of the good life when it comes up at auction.

Grove View, Usk Road, Shirenewton, near Chepstow, which is offered with a guide price of £460,000-plus, is idyllically situated with stunning views over the rolling Monmouthshire countryside (Lot 52).

The rural property includes a bungalow, a number of outbuildings including stables equestrian arena and static home. Enclosed paddocks wrap around the outbuildings.

A rambling property which could be perfect for the two generation living is also on offer at Paul Fosh Auctions.

The extended four-bedroom family home, which also has a two-storey annexe, has a guide price of £24,000-plus (Lot 11). The property at 1 Cwmnantyrodyn, Pontllanfriath, Blackwood, has been modernised and benefits from undefloor heating on the ground floor.

Another property in the catalogue is a mid-terrace house in the centre of Newport at 55 Stow Hill. It is on offer with a guide price of £109,000-plus.

The property, which dates back to 1846, is within walking distance of the city centre and offers a basement, ground floor with living, sitting and dining room and kitchen with two bedrooms and bathroom on the first floor (Lot 33).

All are going up for sale at Paul Fosh Auctions on Thursday starting at 5pm at The Cardiff North Hotel, Cardiff.