Newport stadium could close to save £50k as part of council cuts (From South Wales Argus)
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Newport stadium could close to save £50k as part of council cuts
9:40am Monday 11th February 2013 in News
By Will Bain
POSSIBLE SAVING’: Newport Stadium could be closed by the city council in its bid to balance its budgets
NEWPORT Stadium could become the latest casualty of proposed cuts by Newport City Council in a bid to save £50,000.
The stadium, former home of Newport County, has been at the heart of city sport for years, but could be scrapped or be taken over by a third party to help balance the 2014/15 budget.
In the report to the council’s scrutiny committee on the 2013/14 budget and a fiveyear middle-term financial plan, a list of possible savings proposes “closure of Newport Stadium – request operator expressions of interest”. The proposal is part of a list of proposed service investments and savings which the committee will be invited to comment on.
The report says: “The financial position, over the medium term and next year in particular is very challenging and there is little scope to stop any of the savings without an alternative being available.”
The proposal regarding the stadiumstates that the site is not currently staffed unless there is a booking that covers the staff costs, and savings will result from premises costs of a third party being responsible for all repairs and maintenance and also grounds maintenance.
It states there will also be an additional saving for Streetscene of not maintaining the pitch.
Comments presented by the scrutiny committee on the proposals will be included in formal consultation feedback to the cabinet.
A Newport council spokeswoman said: “Newport City Council is looking at all its services in the light of the need to make significant savings over the next five years.
“Work to explore the best way forward for the stadium will start during 2013. Any proposals regarding a change in operator will be included in the options for in-house or external delivery of sport and leisure facilities.”
Chief executive of Newport County Dave Boddy said that although the club was nowat Rodney Parade it still held an interest in the stadium.
He said he planed to meet the council on Wednesday to discuss issues which would likely include the stadium.
This proposal is the latest wave in a host of cuts proposed by the council to balance its books, as a result of central Government austerity measures.
Newport Stadium is not the only athletics arena in Gwent to hit the headlines.
Last week the Argus reported that Cwmbran Stadium has been banned from hosting competitions after UK Athletics decided to withdrawthe competition licence from Torfaen council because it fell below required safety levels.
Athletics’ future is in the balance, say the Harriers
KEN Goodyear, Secretary of Newport Harriers athletics club, who use the stadium as their base, said: “It would not be a very good legacy for Newport less than two years after the Olympics to not have an athletics facility.
“If we are going to have Commonwealth and Olympic athletes of the future you need coaches and facilities to get them to that level.
“The irony is we are growing all the time and now have more members than ever before.”
Mr Goodyear said he understood the pressure the council was under, particularly now it wasn’t receiving the same level of money coming into the stadium as when Newport County AFC were there.
“The pitch is still being maintained to a football league standard because Newport County have the option to come back, and there are things like football league standard floodlights which we wouldn’t need just for athletics so that dual-purpose nature of it does make it expensive.
“And with athletics at this level being much more of a participation sport than a spectator sport, we can’t fill the gap left by County not being there,” he said.
Mr Goodyear said the club hoped to speak to the council in more detail about its future plans for the stadium.
● What do you think about the stadium proposal?
Contact us with your views on 01633 777226 or email newsdesk@southwalesargus.co.uk
Comments(61)
welshmen
says...
12:31pm Mon 11 Feb 13
skipbifferty
says...
12:37pm Mon 11 Feb 13
IT IS BECAUSE LIEBOR HAVE BEEN VOTED BACK INTO POWER.
Expect more cuts to be on the way like this.
I know a sure fire way to save a great deal of money. Do not pay councillors. The majority have no business acumen, and most claim every expense under the sun. Tell me, why do they need to claim for food, every one needs to eat? Can I claim my lunch money back from my
Employer? I think not!!
Cwmsteve
says...
1:06pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Severn40
says...
1:12pm Mon 11 Feb 13
It is evident the Labour leadership in Newport are struggling big time. There is no strategic sense of what is important and vision for the town.
foxy3rd
says...
1:32pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Mr Bump.
says...
2:32pm Mon 11 Feb 13
foxy3rd wrote:Maybe Newport RFC could sell RP to Gwent Dragons and Newport county, and buy the stadium. Ooops that's just silly, those two clubs haven't got the proverbial pot to relieve themselves in.
For heavens sake I hope the Ivory Towers gravytrainers don't close Spytty stadium or we'll never get the County out of Rodney Parade and our Saturday afternoon rugby back.How can a "city" not have an athletics track.It's typical of them they get very little right.
foxy3rd
says...
2:42pm Mon 11 Feb 13
rhinestine
says...
2:55pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Mr Bump.
says...
3:03pm Mon 11 Feb 13
rhinestine wrote:Absolute rubbish.
Newport is on the edge of collapse.....the strain on resources due to vast influxes of non-working people from other countries is taking its toll on us........
newportboy1981
says...
3:23pm Mon 11 Feb 13
If they carry on the way its going a council wont be needed because they will have nothing to run!
rhinestine
says...
3:24pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Mr Bump. wrote:No it's not.......and you know I am right
rhinestine wrote:Absolute rubbish.
Newport is on the edge of collapse.....the strain on resources due to vast influxes of non-working people from other countries is taking its toll on us........
Miss Informed
says...
3:43pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Bobevans
says...
3:43pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Turn off ther floodlights. Anyone wanting to use it after dark has to pay for the cost of the floodlights being on
Clubs and people using the stadium to pay increased charges
Mr Bump.
says...
3:46pm Mon 11 Feb 13
rhinestine wrote:Yeah, i know you're right, Right wing.
Mr Bump. wrote:No it's not.......and you know I am right
rhinestine wrote:Absolute rubbish.
Newport is on the edge of collapse.....the strain on resources due to vast influxes of non-working people from other countries is taking its toll on us........
welshmen
says...
4:08pm Mon 11 Feb 13
rhinestine wrote:When i ask at my Doctors how is the immigration effecting the practice,reply, "we are not taking anymore on, we are over our quota" when i wrote to the Housing Dept on a freedom of information Act inquiry, how many foreign and EU immigrants were housed compared to indigenous in my ward, were 165 foreign and EU immigrants 87 indigenous British, my request for asylum seekers was not answered, i have been unsuccessful trying to locate a Dentist for fillings....Liberal comments such as rubbish, "Liberalism" is not so much about knowing as it is about not knowing, it's pretending to know more than you know, it's the empty gestures, the loud protest and the snide remark when ever they disagree,next they'll start banding you as racist's, sexist, homophobic, or Islamaphobic as to what topic your commenting on that they don't agree with....
Mr Bump. wrote:No it's not.......and you know I am right
rhinestine wrote:Absolute rubbish.
Newport is on the edge of collapse.....the strain on resources due to vast influxes of non-working people from other countries is taking its toll on us........
Wayne Evans
says...
4:08pm Mon 11 Feb 13
lowandhardandinthecorner
says...
4:15pm Mon 11 Feb 13
D Taylor
says...
4:21pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Bobevans wrote:Newport County have to decide very soon whether they want to stay at Rodney Parade. They have an option to return to Newport Stadium for next season but if they do not take up the option their rights to NS end. So there will be no need to maintain the stadium at football league level. Personally I would like to see County take over Newport Stadium but only if it was for football only. Athletics and professional football just don't mix very well.
First thing is to stop maintaining it for Newport AFC. If they want to maintain an option to come back they pay the costs
Turn off ther floodlights. Anyone wanting to use it after dark has to pay for the cost of the floodlights being on
Clubs and people using the stadium to pay increased charges
moogieenglish@hotmail.co.uk
says...
5:20pm Mon 11 Feb 13
foxy3rd
says...
5:24pm Mon 11 Feb 13
JENKO1965
says...
6:07pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Newport Spark
says...
7:43pm Mon 11 Feb 13
We also have a political class who have had their snouts in the trough for so long they now think its their right to pay themselves as they do. We also have far too many politicians and councillors. Add on to this the Welsh Assembly. It is all unaffordable. The sooner the penny drops the better.
harryfan
says...
7:58pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Mr Bump.
says...
8:12pm Mon 11 Feb 13
savenewportart
says...
8:20pm Mon 11 Feb 13
http://www.change.or
g/en-GB/petitions/ne
wport-city-council-s
ave-newport-art-gall
ery-s-temporary-exhi
bitions-programme
Newport Museum and Art Gallery brings in 28,000 people a year to the city bringing in much needed revenue to an impoverished city. There are more empty shops and derelict properties in Newport than anywhere else in Wales.
We have heard the the Council also plans to close the Art Gallery, Library and Museum in John Frost Square to make way for a shopping mall.
Why is no one objecting to their plans? Please join our campaign to stop them and write to your MP and local councillor. If there are no complaints they will do what they want. Public opinion can change minds.
Limestonecowboy
says...
8:43pm Mon 11 Feb 13
VoiceOfDaPort
says...
8:53pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Ranger12
says...
9:50pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Newport Spark wrote:I have never understood why I need a councillor, AM, MEP and MP looking after my interests, now if you were to remove the middle two, some of the ones who at least have some business acumen may replace the current council members who are simply out of their depth.
Liberal policies of the last 20-30 are coming home to roost. No one asked for mass immigration into this country but thats what we got. You cannot expect to keep allowing people into the country in the 100s of thousands. You see the consequences evetwhere. From over-stretched roads,schools filled to busting and the NHS creaking at the seams.
We also have a political class who have had their snouts in the trough for so long they now think its their right to pay themselves as they do. We also have far too many politicians and councillors. Add on to this the Welsh Assembly. It is all unaffordable. The sooner the penny drops the better.
Bobevans
says...
10:20pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Usually with Council run facilities they are over staffed
Charges for using the facillites could be increased and opening hours could be reduced
Bobevans
says...
10:23pm Mon 11 Feb 13
foxy3rd wrote:There is little demand for athletics. If you can cover the £50K shortfull it is not a problem
For heavens sake I hope the Ivory Towers gravytrainers don't close Spytty stadium or we'll never get the County out of Rodney Parade and our Saturday afternoon rugby back.How can a "city" not have an athletics track.It's typical of them they get very little right.
People are usually keen to say they want facilities but most never use them and the ones that do will not pay an economic price..
33daverave
says...
10:28pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Bobevans wrote:There is a demand for athletics.Have you seen Jessica Ennis ?
foxy3rd wrote:There is little demand for athletics. If you can cover the £50K shortfull it is not a problem
For heavens sake I hope the Ivory Towers gravytrainers don't close Spytty stadium or we'll never get the County out of Rodney Parade and our Saturday afternoon rugby back.How can a "city" not have an athletics track.It's typical of them they get very little right.
People are usually keen to say they want facilities but most never use them and the ones that do will not pay an economic price..
jeany1
says...
11:12pm Mon 11 Feb 13
snafu1
says...
5:11am Tue 12 Feb 13
Mr Bump.
says...
8:22am Tue 12 Feb 13
snafu1 wrote:Wow thats £340m. I don't believe that for a second. Let me guess, you are a taxi driver right?
JUST REMEMBBER HONEST RATEPAYERS YOUR COUNCIL BLEW £342000 THOUSAND POUNDS OF YOUR MONEY ON THEIR CRASS ATTACK ON NEWPORT TAXI DRIVERS ,NOW THE ARE COMING UP WITH THESE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL IDEAS TO SAVE MONEY,THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED ,BUT NOT BY THE COUNCIL AS PREVIOUSLY DONE.
Mr Bump.
says...
8:24am Tue 12 Feb 13
Mr G Went
says...
9:07am Tue 12 Feb 13
In one way I do feel sorry for the Newport Harriers, but then I also remember how awkward they used to make life for the County at times.
Bobevans
says...
9:13am Tue 12 Feb 13
jeany1 wrote:If there were high demand it would not be making a loss.
There is high demand for athletics in Newport. The u11 age group alone has more than 60 athletes and a large waiting list as well. Training nights at the track are extremely busy!
If you want to use it then you are going to have to pay realistic rates to use it.
D Taylor
says...
9:15am Tue 12 Feb 13
Floppy backed
says...
9:17am Tue 12 Feb 13
Perhaps for all money that NBC ploughed into the Ryder Cup for Sir Terrence he'd be happy to subsidise this for them because the Ryder cup did nothing for Newport (which everyone said).
Like Torfaen all councils will be doing is subsidising all on the social and the true working class will be busting a gut to earn £25k.
Cymru Am Beth
says...
2:24pm Tue 12 Feb 13
Mr Bump. wrote:It is bound to have some effect.
rhinestine wrote:Absolute rubbish.
Newport is on the edge of collapse.....the strain on resources due to vast influxes of non-working people from other countries is taking its toll on us........
Cymru Am Beth
says...
2:32pm Tue 12 Feb 13
Newport Spark wrote:Absolutely agree.
Liberal policies of the last 20-30 are coming home to roost. No one asked for mass immigration into this country but thats what we got. You cannot expect to keep allowing people into the country in the 100s of thousands. You see the consequences evetwhere. From over-stretched roads,schools filled to busting and the NHS creaking at the seams.
We also have a political class who have had their snouts in the trough for so long they now think its their right to pay themselves as they do. We also have far too many politicians and councillors. Add on to this the Welsh Assembly. It is all unaffordable. The sooner the penny drops the better.
What about the expected influx of Romanians and people from other 'sink countries'.
We are not in a position to refuse citizens of the EU.
They are in a 'win win' situation.
We welcome these Countries in who havn't got a pot to p**s in and we end up picking up the tab.
Mr Bump.
says...
4:26pm Tue 12 Feb 13
Cymru Am Beth wrote:There is nothing stopping you selling up going to Romania replacing the missing hoardes, and living the life of a king in relative solitude then is there? Bon voyage and good riddance.
Newport Spark wrote:Absolutely agree.
Liberal policies of the last 20-30 are coming home to roost. No one asked for mass immigration into this country but thats what we got. You cannot expect to keep allowing people into the country in the 100s of thousands. You see the consequences evetwhere. From over-stretched roads,schools filled to busting and the NHS creaking at the seams.
We also have a political class who have had their snouts in the trough for so long they now think its their right to pay themselves as they do. We also have far too many politicians and councillors. Add on to this the Welsh Assembly. It is all unaffordable. The sooner the penny drops the better.
What about the expected influx of Romanians and people from other 'sink countries'.
We are not in a position to refuse citizens of the EU.
They are in a 'win win' situation.
We welcome these Countries in who havn't got a pot to p**s in and we end up picking up the tab.
Cymru Am Beth
says...
4:43pm Tue 12 Feb 13
Mr Bump. wrote:I don't think that anybody would want to live in Romania, that just proves my point.
Cymru Am Beth wrote:There is nothing stopping you selling up going to Romania replacing the missing hoardes, and living the life of a king in relative solitude then is there? Bon voyage and good riddance.
Newport Spark wrote:Absolutely agree.
Liberal policies of the last 20-30 are coming home to roost. No one asked for mass immigration into this country but thats what we got. You cannot expect to keep allowing people into the country in the 100s of thousands. You see the consequences evetwhere. From over-stretched roads,schools filled to busting and the NHS creaking at the seams.
We also have a political class who have had their snouts in the trough for so long they now think its their right to pay themselves as they do. We also have far too many politicians and councillors. Add on to this the Welsh Assembly. It is all unaffordable. The sooner the penny drops the better.
What about the expected influx of Romanians and people from other 'sink countries'.
We are not in a position to refuse citizens of the EU.
They are in a 'win win' situation.
We welcome these Countries in who havn't got a pot to p**s in and we end up picking up the tab.
They all want to come over here because they know that they will be showered with benefits and free housing.
That is why these Countries want to join the EU, but they have nothing to offer in return.
They know that they are not going to get hoardes of British people wanting to go to Romania. That's pretty obvious to anyone with half a brain.
Mr Bump.
says...
6:24pm Tue 12 Feb 13
Mwy Eira
says...
10:26pm Tue 12 Feb 13
Bobevans
says...
10:58am Wed 13 Feb 13
Mwy Eira wrote:THen pay an economic rate to use these facilities or use a local park
My daughter is one of the 60+ U11s that use the track for athletics. Let's just let them all roam the streets shall we. At least these kids are doing so something constructive and not sitting around playing computer games. Another thing to be taken away from them.
Cymru Am Beth
says...
12:25pm Wed 13 Feb 13
Mr Bump. wrote:Are you seriously deficient in brain matter.
Are you seriously suggesting 19m Romanians want to upsticks, ignore every other EU country and relocate to the UK to live on benefits? Get a grip you nutter.
Did I say every Romanian wants to come here?
The top-up effect of allowing further immigrants in is bound to have some impact.
What have you got a degree in? Media Studies I expect, if you have one at all.
Goldy_Lookin_Clart
says...
12:33pm Wed 13 Feb 13
Warra clever idea like.
Mwy Eira
says...
9:54pm Wed 13 Feb 13
Bobevans wrote:My local park and track now has a school built on it and the bit they haven't built on is covered in dogs mess. Thanks for the free advice though.
Mwy Eira wrote:THen pay an economic rate to use these facilities or use a local park
My daughter is one of the 60+ U11s that use the track for athletics. Let's just let them all roam the streets shall we. At least these kids are doing so something constructive and not sitting around playing computer games. Another thing to be taken away from them.
Mr Bump.
says...
10:08pm Wed 13 Feb 13
Mwy Eira wrote:Are you a Newport resident?
Bobevans wrote:My local park and track now has a school built on it and the bit they haven't built on is covered in dogs mess. Thanks for the free advice though.
Mwy Eira wrote:THen pay an economic rate to use these facilities or use a local park
My daughter is one of the 60+ U11s that use the track for athletics. Let's just let them all roam the streets shall we. At least these kids are doing so something constructive and not sitting around playing computer games. Another thing to be taken away from them.
Bobevans
says...
3:09pm Thu 14 Feb 13
An alternative outdoor track could easilly built around existing facilities
jaggededge
says...
4:26pm Thu 14 Feb 13
GogExile
says...
9:03pm Thu 14 Feb 13
D Taylor
says...
9:25am Fri 15 Feb 13
Mr Bump. wrote:Sounds like she's talking about the Glebelands.
Mwy Eira wrote:Are you a Newport resident?
Bobevans wrote:My local park and track now has a school built on it and the bit they haven't built on is covered in dogs mess. Thanks for the free advice though.
Mwy Eira wrote:THen pay an economic rate to use these facilities or use a local park
My daughter is one of the 60+ U11s that use the track for athletics. Let's just let them all roam the streets shall we. At least these kids are doing so something constructive and not sitting around playing computer games. Another thing to be taken away from them.
Mr Bump.
says...
1:29pm Fri 15 Feb 13
Cymru Am Beth wrote:Yes you did say "every Romanian wants to come here." You clueless clown.
Mr Bump. wrote:Are you seriously deficient in brain matter.
Are you seriously suggesting 19m Romanians want to upsticks, ignore every other EU country and relocate to the UK to live on benefits? Get a grip you nutter.
Did I say every Romanian wants to come here?
The top-up effect of allowing further immigrants in is bound to have some impact.
What have you got a degree in? Media Studies I expect, if you have one at all.
Cymru Am Beth
says...
6:06pm Fri 15 Feb 13
Mr Bump. wrote:You are obviously an uneducated reprobate with a very nasty personality.
Cymru Am Beth wrote:Yes you did say "every Romanian wants to come here." You clueless clown.
Mr Bump. wrote:Are you seriously deficient in brain matter.
Are you seriously suggesting 19m Romanians want to upsticks, ignore every other EU country and relocate to the UK to live on benefits? Get a grip you nutter.
Did I say every Romanian wants to come here?
The top-up effect of allowing further immigrants in is bound to have some impact.
What have you got a degree in? Media Studies I expect, if you have one at all.
I said they all want to come over here (that is the ones that are going to come anyway) I didn't say EVERY Romanian.
Read between the lines, or are you incabable of doing so.
Nasty piece of work you are.
Mwy Eira
says...
8:46pm Fri 15 Feb 13
It is not just the rich kids that go training at the athletics. We pay track fees. Do the kids that play football and rugby pay pitch fees ? I don't know the answer to that one but perhaps someone can enlighten us.
Where else did you think I lived Bobevans ?????????
welshmen
says...
2:31pm Sat 16 Feb 13
The People's Republic of Newp
says...
4:19pm Sat 16 Feb 13
Cymru Am Beth wrote:Better a "nasty piece of work" by your definition than a reductive prat who channels poorly-articulated sub Daily Mail contradictory invective and bile in lieu of effectively reasoned argument. How about you shush until you're able to offer something other than 'blame immigration'?
Mr Bump. wrote:You are obviously an uneducated reprobate with a very nasty personality.
Cymru Am Beth wrote:Yes you did say "every Romanian wants to come here." You clueless clown.
Mr Bump. wrote:Are you seriously deficient in brain matter.
Are you seriously suggesting 19m Romanians want to upsticks, ignore every other EU country and relocate to the UK to live on benefits? Get a grip you nutter.
Did I say every Romanian wants to come here?
The top-up effect of allowing further immigrants in is bound to have some impact.
What have you got a degree in? Media Studies I expect, if you have one at all.
I said they all want to come over here (that is the ones that are going to come anyway) I didn't say EVERY Romanian.
Read between the lines, or are you incabable of doing so.
Nasty piece of work you are.
Cymru Am Beth
says...
9:14am Sun 17 Feb 13
You have some serious anger management issues.
I am not going to post any further on this matter as I am sure you will want the last word.
Just shows your mentality.
You have a serious psychological flaw in your character.
I suggest that you see someone about it before it gets worse.
ncfcr says...
11:51am Mon 11 Feb 13
I would argue this was probably the main reason why the income of Newport County was lost in the first place - because the pitch was not even Sunday league standard and the Council couldn't afford to repair it.
Why is it that every other City in the UK seems to have a Council that is able to help its resident sports associations, yet in Newport we always seem to get lumbered with scraps?