Responding to the needs of local residents and visitors alike, the Community Councils of Portskewett and Sudbrooke engaged local artist Keith Underwood to create pictorial maps of their areas to represent the research of local historian Peter Strong. Supported by a grant from Monmouthshire County Council, these maps were created for display in the centre of Portskewett and at the start of Sudbrooke walk. But here, the funding stopped.
To complete the project the communities still needed covered display stands designed to be in-keeping with the village ambience, to mount and protect the maps. To the rescue came Caldicot-based Benfield ATT, designers, manufacturers and builders of advanced timber structures for houses, schools, health care, leisure and other buildings. Starting the job immediately, they designed, made and delivered exactly what was required as a gift to their local communities.
‘We were really pleased to find a local firm so willing to help us out’ said Community Council Chairman, Peter Nurcombe, ‘and we’re absolutely delighted with the result’ added his vice-chairman, Cllr Anthony Griffiths, at the handover ceremony on the Green in Portskewett on Wednesday afternoon.
Making the donation on behalf of his company, Dr Michael Benfield said ‘I was brought-up to believe in giving as much support to the local community as possible. We have been very well received here and, in ploughing something back, we hope we can help local families, their friends and visitors get even greater enjoyment from this delightful area’.
‘We’re really pleased that the Community Councils were able to get help to support the County’s investment’ said Peter Fox, Monmouth County Councillor for the district.
Dr Benfield, attracted to establish a timber engineering business in Wales from Warwickshire, where his brother, Clive still runs their Coventry-based family firm of house-builders and contractors, has a lifelong love of timber buildings. As Chartered Building Consultants and Chartered Surveyors, Benfield ATT offer a full professional service to self-builders, homeowners, architects, builders and local authorities, as well as erecting the buildings they manufacture.
