Can you help the Parish Council track down an oak noticeboard that has gone missing, sometime after the end of October?

The £1,500 noticeboard was reported damaged in October and was lying flat on the ground just beyond the Limeworks sculpture at the heritage site entrance in Llanymynech.

When a contractor went to carry out a repair, the board couldn’t be found and, after enquiries of local volunteers and rangers at the heritage site, it was reported to the police. The police searched the area without success, so the disappearance has now been recorded on their crime website.

Installed as part of the Heritage Lottery Project, which was carried out on the Limeworks in 2005/6, the board cost £1,569 and provided information to visitors about the Hoffmann Kiln in the Heritage Area.

If anyone took the board – perhaps for firewood but still has it – the Parish Council would be really grateful for its return so it can be reinstated in the Heritage Area and carry on providing information to visitors, when they return after lockdown.

Although perhaps seen as a minor crime, the replacement of this noticeboard will take funds away from the Parish Council and ultimately the whole community.

If anyone has any information about the whereabouts or fate of the noticeboard, please contact the Parish Council clerk by email landpcouncil@btinternet.com or send us a message using the contact form on this website if you wish to remain anonymous.

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This year, Remembrance Sunday falls on Sunday 8th November and COVID-19 will significantly affect how it is observed in Pant and the surrounding areas.

The annual Act of Remembrance that has been organised at Pant Memorial Hall in recent years will not be going ahead inside the hall due to the current pandemic restrictions, but a local resident has stepped in to put a display in the entrance hallway for anyone who might like to see the memorials held at the hall for individual quiet reflection. Unfortunately, access to the hall will not be possible, but local people are welcome to look through the hall doors to see the memorial and poppy display.

If you would like to attend, please observe social distancing and bring a facemask, unless you are exempt.

The marble tablet in Pant Memorial Hall was initially in Pant United Reform Chapel and records the names of those fallen in the Second World War. The hall also displays a copy of a Roll of Honour for those who fell in the First World War. Details about the war memorials in Pant Memorial Hall can be found on the hall’s website – https://pantmemorialhall.org.uk/war-memorials-and-commemorations-at-pant

On Sunday 8 November, Acts of Remembrance will also take place at the War Memorials at the two local churches for serving members of armed forces and veterans – Government advice is that most people should mark the commemoration at home:

• In Morton Churchyard around the War Memorial, gathering from 10.15am to allow for Test and Trace, with an Act of Remembrance at 10.30am.
• At Llanymynech War Memorial at 2.30pm for an Act of Remembrance.

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According to Maureen at the pub, although the pub is open, the kitchen will not reopen until next week while the kitchen is restocked.

More information about coronavirus and COVID-19 is available on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19

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According to a post on the pub’s Facebook page, NHS test and trace has been contacted and has informed the pub that they will collect the ‘sign in book’ and contact people who have recently visited the pub.

The same post says that the pub is likely to be closed for the next 2 weeks.

More information about coronavirus and COVID-19 is available on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19

We will update this article as and when we receive more information.

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With all the preparation and planning needed to work safely in the ‘new normal’, it was a relief to the committee to be able to finalise our reopening plans in late August. We were also pleased to have so much interest from our regular hirers, as well as some new ones.

The hall has been back in use since Monday September 14th. We are currently accepting bookings up to the end of 2020.

Inevitably things will not be the same for a while. Please understand that we cannot hold some events, our capacity is reduced to 30 people (including up to 12 under-11s), the kitchen is out of use and face coverings are mandated in line with government guidance.

‘Rule of six’ and ‘test and trace’ procedures also apply. We also ask hirers to do some cleaning before and after their events, and everyone needs to provide us with a short risk assessment. This reassures the committee and all users that we are operating safely and in line with legislation. We continue to monitor the situation and will adapt our procedures as things change.

You can read all the information for hirers and users on our website, or get in touch if you need further help. Please help your event organiser by paying attention to social distancing both in the hall and in the car park, and of course no-one should be at the hall if they have symptoms or are isolating for any reason. We do have a ‘covid-19 emergency box’ but we really hope it won’t be used!

Attendance at all events needs to be pre-booked so that organisers can manage numbers – no walk-ins or public events. Regrettably that means that there will be no autumn bazaar or remembrance service this year. We hope to resume both in 2021.

Thank you to all who have supported us this time; grant funders, some generous donors (you know who you are and we really appreciate you). We are also very grateful to the national volunteers who have given so much help and guidance to village hall committees.

To contact us: call 07913 565708, email secretary@pantmemorialhall.org.uk, see our website www.pantmemorialhall.org.uk , Facebook @pantmemorialhall, Twitter @pantmemhall, or leave us a note in the postbox!

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The Cross Guns has announced that almost £250 was raised by and for three local organisations – the PTA at Bryn Offa School, Pant Memorial Hall and the Restore the Montgomery Canal! Appeal. All are to receive £60, with donations on the day to the canal group adding another £65.

Although the car boot part of the day didn’t pull in quite as many people as was hoped, the afternoon music event was very well supported.

Said Maureen from the pub: “We are really pleased at how the day went and it’s great to be able to support these local organisations with cash raised on the day. Due to the COVID-19 regulations at the time, we had to arrange the event at pretty short notice, but it was great to welcome more people into the pub’s gardens for the first outside performances of the year.

“Pantfest was our way of saying ‘thank you’ to the whole village for their support during the early part of the year when we were only open for takeaways.”

Recent changes to the regulations for pubs mean that the Cross Guns, along with all other pubs in England, will have to close by 10pm and will be restricted by law to table service only.

No table bookings of more than six are allowed and groups won’t be able to mingle with other people. You will need to give your contact details for future tracing if an outbreak is detected.

Staff will have to wear masks, as must customers if they are not sat at their table to eat or drink.

Added Maureen: “Times continue to be difficult for us all, but we are aiming to keep the Cross Guns at the heart of the community.”

If you want to find out more about the three local organisations, please visit: Pant Memorial Hall, The Montgomery Canal or Bryn Offa PTA.

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For the last three years the Restore the Montgomery Canal! appeal has been raising money to rebuild the bridge between Pant and Crickheath in advance of work on restoring the canal towards Pant and Llanymynech. At the same time a team of retired civil engineers, all volunteers, has been preparing the designs for the project.

The team believes that the only way the bridge can be rebuilt with the available funds is by using as many volunteers as possible to undertake much of the work and to engage specialist contractors only when necessary.

After a series of online meetings the volunteer team held a suitably distanced meeting at a nearby hotel to prepare for the start of work. The plan is to carry out some preparatory work this autumn, with Covid precautions, with the main reconstruction in spring 2021.

Michael Limbrey, Chairman of the Restore the Montgomery Canal! appeal group said, “Canal volunteers have a great record of building or rebuilding locks and bridges and the results can be seen on canal restorations across the country. These volunteers have the skills and qualifications to use serious pieces of equipment, as they do on the Shropshire Union Canal Society working parties restoring the dry Montgomery Canal channel to the north of Schoolhouse Bridge.

“So this is our call to canal volunteers – any volunteers – to come and join this exciting project. Starting next spring we have to build a bridge in the space of a few months so we can reopen the road as soon as possible.

“Unlike many restoration projects, this is for one season: seven months and the job is done.

“It will probably take just one day to crane the bridge arch into position – that will be very exciting!

“This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in joining a vital part of the project to bring the Montgomery Canal back to Mid Wales. The completed bridge will be a permanent reminder of your achievement.”

The team plans to start in September by fencing off the site and laying a temporary trackway so heavy vehicles can get past the site. Next spring the main project will start by removing the existing road embankment so a concrete base and walls can be created for the new bridge. Contractors will then install the bridge arch, with volunteers backfilling to road level so contractors can surface the road. Volunteers will finish brickwork facing to the bridge, install bridge parapets and other fitments and complete landscaping so the road can be reopened to traffic.

Ken Jackson from the project team said, “Now we have to build the volunteer labour force. This will be a mix of skilled specialist volunteers such as carpenters, steel fixers and bricklayers and general volunteers to support them and carry out general ground works and landscaping.
“We are looking for specialised volunteers to join the project to drive excavators and dumpers to excavate the site in March/April 2021, from May to prepare for concreting in June, and in July and September to brick the faces of the bridge.

“We understand that planning outdoor activities is difficult at the moment but don’t let that stop you registering an interest in working with the Schoolhouse Bridge team; and don’t worry if you haven’t done this kind of thing before, we will provide induction training, personal protective equipment and all the tools.”

For more on the Montgomery Canal visit www.themontgomerycanal.org.uk.

To register an interest in volunteering, please email contact@montgomerywrtrust.uk.

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There will be live music all day in the garden, from around 2pm – 8pm, featuring a number of different acts, as well as a raffle and car boot sale raising funds for charity.

The car boot sale will be held between 10am and 2pm in the pub’s car park with each stall/car costing £5, with all the money going to charity.

Said Maureen from the Cross Guns: “This is short notice as we were waiting to see what the current COVID-19 regulations were, but outside performances are now allowed, with social distancing in place, of course.

“We wanted to put on an event that is for the whole village as our way of saying ‘thank you’ to everyone who has been supporting us over the past few months.

“All money raised by Pantfest will be split equally between three local organisations. A third each will go to the PTA at Bryn Offa School, Pant Memorial Hall and the Restore the Montgomery Canal! appeal.”

Maureen added: “We wanted to support organisations in the village that are for local people. The village hall, like the pub, school and shop are at the heart of the village and if we can help to rebuild Schoolhouse Bridge and bring the Montgomery Canal back in water in Pant, that will be a great asset for local people.”

Sunday lunch will be served as normal between 12 noon and 3pm and there will be selected other meals served throughout the day.

If you are interested in having a car boot stall or getting involved in Pantfest, please call Maureen at the pub on 01691 839631 and visit their Facebook page to find out more about what is happening on the day.

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The pub is managed by Nigel, Maureen and Asia who said that they are looking forward to reopening to regulars, although in a different way than before the lockdown.

A one way system will be in place inside the pub with entry from the side door nearest to the road, and exit into the car park near the beer garden. If the weather is fine, the beer garden gives plenty of space for customers to keep their social distance but if the weather is less than perfect, space will be limited as the pub has to abide by new guidelines, meaning capacity is set at 60 people.

Said Nigel: “The new rules mean that customers cannot stay inside unless there is a table free so booking is strongly recommended on Facebook or by telephone. We don’t want anyone to miss out!

“Luckily, we don’t need to have any plastic screens so we are going to be as welcoming as ever. We have also spent the time during lockdown to completely repaint the inside of the pub so we hope regulars will like the new feel, in spite of the one way system, which I am sure will take a bit of getting used to – especially for regulars who have been coming in for years.”

Tables will be limited to a maximum of six people meaning no big celebrations can be held at the moment.

Both cash and cards will continue to be accepted and Admiral Taverns have introduced a loyalty card which gives a free drink after the purchase of five.

Opening hours will be Monday – Thursday 12 noon to 11.30pm (no food on Mondays), Sunday 12 noon to 11 pm and Friday & Saturday 12 noon to 1 am.

Nigel has also confirmed that the Cross Guns will continue to offer takeaways for the time being.

You can keep in touch with the pub via Facebook.

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With its entire revenue axed to zero as a result of lockdown, plans are already afoot to seal the castle and its grounds to the public, posing a risk it will never re-open, unless funds can be raised to rescue it.

Chairman of the Trustees of the moated castle and its landscaped parkland, Jonjo Evans, explained: “I have a sinking feeling we are going down for good this time, after years of financial problems and this is tragic given that we started the new year with light at the end of a long tunnel.

For years now the Castle has been treading a financial tightrope, with no external funding whatever, relying on our tea room and car park for a regular modest income to pay wages. With free admission, we are heavily dependent on events such as weddings, re-enactments of landmarks in history and other popular activities to help cover the huge annual cost of keeping the place going. As a rule we do well to break even. People see the castle always bubbling with activity and life, swarming with tourists and assume finances are ticking over nicely. They should see the books.”

Our public liability and other insurance, for instance, cost more than £1,000 a month, so the maximum £10,000 grant we received from the Exchequer as a result of Corona virus will be gone on that and other running costs such as utility bills and other recurring and unavoidable overheads by the end of the summer. Long before that happens, leaving us in effect uninsured and with nothing left in the bank, we will need to take steps to seal the site off to stop people sneaking in. The law requires this and it is a bleak prospect.”

The gatehouse will still be visible from the road, but the moat bridge, along with the road approach to the rest of the castle and its grounds will have to be barricaded and in the absence of an injection of funds I can’t see any of it re-opening when the crisis is over. We need capital now to keep going and at the very least make the small improvements from we had planned to do from the income.”

If you would be able to financially support the castle, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/community-castle-in-crisis, where you can add your contribution.

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