A GOVILON woman is standing up to the anti-social behaviour which is affecting the neighbourhood reports ANDY SHERWILL. 

Kay Malson, a resident of The Avenue says that she is collecting the names of other residents who are concerned about the increase in anti social behaviour, which she says occurs daily and mostly affects the people who live near to the old school premises.

Ms Malson said: "I predicted that the school building would be destroyed last year after an arson attack when it closed.

"The building could have been utilised as a much needed community centre, but because of the interest shown by local children running amok within the area of the abandoned school building, such a disaster was inevitable, but to be honest, even I was shocked at the scale of the destruction."

Govilon School was closed in August 2010 due to falling pupil numbers and Monmouthshire County Council had made a provision that the building would be sold and the funds raised from its sale put back into education.

Ms Mason said: "Before the dear little school was burned, the local community had come up with suggestions that the building could have had so many uses if it had been given a chance, including that of a campus for adult learning.

"But this is not possible now and the derelict nature of the landscape is a haven for teenagers with nowhere else to go. They sit on a wall and after an hour or so they become bored and this is when the anti-social behaviour begins. I don't blame them as there is nothing for them around here to keep them interested.

"Govilon is a village with a great historical legacy and was instrumental to the success of the industrial heritage of our valleys. I would like to see more involvement by the authorities and maybe invoke some interest in this pretty little village.

"Today it is a derelict site within the heart of the village that is surrounded by housing. I may not be a resident who has lived here for decades, but the neighbours who are have said that Govilon has always been the neglected village.

"I would like to see a change in attitude. If a town or village is left to deteriorate then the behaviour of the inhabitants will soon follow. I would like to suggest that Monmouthshire County Council has a serious look at the infrastructure of this village as more could be made of it before it deteriorates any further.

"If the site is sold for housing, I would like to see a community centre included in the plans so something like a youth club could be established.

"And before the site is sold for development I suggest the local authority look at the road network leading to the site and put plans in place for widening the road, with much needed parking bays for residents so that cars are not damaged by lorries entering the site."

Ms Malson will be putting her suggestions forward at the Govilon village meeting on Tuesday, November 15 at the Salisbury Hall, which will also be discussing the Forgotten Landscapes Project, local signage, the Govilon war memorial and highways issues.