Argus survey shows depth of Newport city centre crisis (From South Wales Argus)
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Argus survey shows depth of Newport city centre crisis
9:10am Monday 11th March 2013 in News
By John Phillips
CLOSED: The Marks and Spencer store on Commercial Street in Newport
NEWPORT city centre is in crisis with almost a quarter of shops lying empty and a 42 per cent vacancy rate in one street alone, an Argus study reveals today.
Shoppers and retailers united in deploring the demise of the once vibrant hub, as major chains Bonmarche and Sports Direct prepared to close two branches in Commercial Street this weekend.
The latest high-street casualties came to light as our survey showed 42 per cent of shops were now shut in Lower Dock Street, which leads to the landmark indoor market dating back to 1864.
John Frost Square has a 68 per cent vacancy rate, albeit with some shops awaiting redevelopment as part of a multi-million pound scheme featuring a Debenhams and a Cineworld multiplex. This is not expected to be completed before 2015.
Businesses and shoppers warned that Newport City Centre was "dying".
Our study showed Newport city centre was blighted by more than 100 shop closures - 24.88 per cent of the total surveyed.
Meanwhile, a separate Freedom of Information request showed that more than £700,000 of business rates had been lost because of shop closures in the city centre since 2008. Council chiefs collected £210,000 in business rates in the last four years.
Retailers and shoppers painted a bleak picture saying the city centre was suffering while the out-of-town Spytty shopping centre in Seven Stiles Avenue, Newport, and Cwmbran Shopping continued to boom.
They said the lack of good parking facilities was one of the main reasons for the demise of the city centre, with only Kingsway Shopping Centre near John Frost Square offering free parking.
Traders at Newport Market in Lower Dock Street called for the town centre to be re-pedestrianised to give shoppers more parking after losing a 500-space car park in Cambrian Road in December.
The traders understand the car park is to be used by Admiral Insurance but the council said 290 spaces would be created at the site.
Retailers and shoppers also criticised council chiefs over delays in completing works at the market and John Frost Square, which could help revitalise the city centre.
AM's shock at survey results
Conservative AM William Graham spoke of his shock after seeing the survey’s results.
He said: "It’s extraordinary and worse than one thinks. Newport City Council must take urgent action following this devastating survey by the South Wales Argus.
"Free parking should be restored at once as well as better signage and access to the city centre."
Newport Chamber of Trade president Alan Edwards, 64, said: "What you're seeing in Newport is a small growth of independent shops. We're not getting back the big companies and we probably won't until we get the John Frost Square redevelopment. Spytty doesn't help."
Labour AM for Newport West Rosemary Butler said: "The findings of your retail survey demonstrate that empty shops in Newport continue to be of increasing concern.
"With the drive towards redevelopment of the city centre by Newport City Council and continuing investment from the Welsh Government, I am confident that businesses will return to the city centre."
Survey Panel
Latest high-street casualties:
Bonmarche, Commercial Street, closes on Saturday - Bonmarche was unvailable for comment.
SportsDirect, Commercial Street, closes on Sunday - The chain declined to comment on the closure.
HMV, Commercial Street, is set to close by April 3 - The chain went into administration in January and all 10 staff at the store are to be made redundant, administrators Deloitte said.
‘Shop closures are killing Newport’
Nadeem Hussain, 19, of Amira fashion shop in Commercial Street, said: "The town is lost. The business chances for getting jobs have gone down. Newport is getting tougher for a lot of people."
Liz McAinsh, 58, of Llantarnam, said: "Newport is closing down. Shop closures are killing Newport. There isn't enough car parking. It's all charity shops and Cwmbran is loving it. Everything was supposed to be coming with the Ryder Cup in 2010. The Ryder Cup came and went and Newport closed."
Her husband Chris, 59, said: "It could be made into a superb shopping centre if it was done properly."
Commercial Street businessman Peter Georgiou, 60, said: "We've told the council for 20 years about getting parking. The shops have gone. It's a nightmare."
Phil Baggott, 21, of the Carpenters pub in the High Street, said: "Everyone is leaving the town centre. Everything is going to Spytty and Cwmbran. I think generally there is no money going around. Luckily enough we seem to be doing all right."
Gill Jackson, 64, the manager of the Band newsagent kiosk in Upper Dock Street, said: "Next has gone, Marks & Spencer has closed down. There is nothing except charity shops and charity shops."
Jeff Baker, 42, of electronics store Hi Fi Western in Cambrian Road, said: "It's terrible. I've lived here all my life. Unfortunately, places like Cwmbran are bustling. The council should be encouraging people to shop in the town centre. The Debenhams is supposed to be happening for years.
"I miss not being able to go to Marks & Sparks - this is high-street retail. I really want to believe in Newport but it's getting worse and worse."
Chris Williams, 59, of the Fruit Machine stall in Upper Dock Street, said: "It's shocking. Something's got to happen with all the empty shops. I feel a bit let down."
Mike Turner, 43, of AD Turner & Sons butchers at Newport Market, said: "In the '90s we had a very vibrant town. We said 'Please don't pedestrianise but they did and virtually overnight a lot of businesses shut down. This is a beautiful Victorian market and its redevelopment is fabulous. It needs to happen as soon as possible. The market has plenty to offer."
His mum Theresa added: "We are desperate. The works at the market are 13 weeks behind schedule."
Market shopper Sue Freeman, 43, of Blackbird Road, Caldicot, said: "It's really bad. I've been coming here for 30 years. There is no incentive to come here. There is nowhere to park."
John Kerr, 62, of the Strawberry Water Junk shop in Upper Dock Street, said: "The council have got to get some car parking and finish the bus station as soon as possible or there will be more shops closing.
"They should unpedestrianised the area around the market. This would magically give you parking spaces."
Redevelopment 'cannot come quickly enough'
FIGURES obtained by Plaid Assembly member Lindsay Whittle showed the losses of business rates in Newport and he said the city centre redevelopment cannot come quickly enough.
However Bob Bright, Newport council leader, criticised the AM saying he "has not brought forward any solutions" to the problems in Newport city centre.
Landlords can obtain some relief from business rates if their properties become vacant.
Between 2008/09 and 2012/13 £692,297 was lost in revenue from empty shops and premises in Newport city centre.
There were 59 such properties in 2008/09, 60 in 09/10, 58 in 10/11, 69 in 2011/12 and 53 to date in 2012/13.
Meanwhile £23,098 was lost in revenue from empty market stalls between 2010/11 and this current financial year.
Mr Whittle said: “Newport city centre is struggling and I’ve been very concerned about the loss of major names like Marks & Spencer. The Friars Walk development cannot come quickly enough.
“It’s not just about the loss of revenue from empty shops but also the overall impression it gives to shoppers and visitors.
“I’m pleased that work on revamping Newport Market is taking place and this is clearly very necessary to make it more attractive for traders and shoppers, given the high percentage of empty stalls.”
Business rates are not set by councils and are collected by local authorities on behalf of the Welsh Government.
Council doing 'everything within its power' to help city centre - leader
COUNCIL chief Bob Bright said the authority was doing "everything within its power" to improve the city centre.
The Labour leader said the regeneration of Newport was moving forward with works on the market, bus station and £108,000 allocated towards economic regeneration including the city centre.
He confirmed the John Frost Square revamp was due to begin later this year and stressed the Admiral Insurance development near Cambrian Road was to bring hundreds of jobs next year.
A council spokeswoman said that Admiral development would feature retail and leisure space and 290 parking spaces, adding there were still 2,800 spaces in the city centre despite the loss of the Cambrian car park.
Cllr Bright said talks were under way with the Welsh Government and the Chamber of Trade to further enhance the city centre.
He said: "The council is doing everything within its power to assist and improve the city centre while itself dealing with tough financial restrains as a result of national austerity. We regard this as a priority but we do not have a magic wand that can solve the problems overnight."
Comments(115)
swrxp09
says...
10:10am Mon 11 Mar 13
Woodgnome
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10:20am Mon 11 Mar 13
JoJoJoJo
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11:02am Mon 11 Mar 13
Dai37
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11:24am Mon 11 Mar 13
No surprises, except for the AMs who are "horrified".
I do not expect that in the words of the politicians" they knew nothing about it", despite the evidence for all to see.
Newport Clowncil more like.
Severn40
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11:27am Mon 11 Mar 13
Unfortunately the Welsh Labour Government in their wisdom has decided to delay the process for another two years.
This is a shame because lower town centre rates would have a greater effect on the financial viability of smaller businesses than any repaving works are likely to achieve.
Woodgnome
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11:30am Mon 11 Mar 13
Bilbo Biggins
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11:46am Mon 11 Mar 13
markus007
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11:47am Mon 11 Mar 13
Nevasleep
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12:05pm Mon 11 Mar 13
sperduti
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12:09pm Mon 11 Mar 13
tangledup
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12:10pm Mon 11 Mar 13
I'm sure that if you asked them nicely, somebody from Newport City Council would give you the latest "artist impression" of the planneed development!
bobjones2011
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12:35pm Mon 11 Mar 13
paddyparry
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1:01pm Mon 11 Mar 13
UpsetResident
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1:04pm Mon 11 Mar 13
No Bob, it's YOUR JOB to find the solutions!
Take the criticism of your utter failure and do something constructive. We the people have every right to complain and criticise without any need to offer solutions, because you are paid to do that, it is the reason you were voted into office.
Fix our **** city you arrogant idiot!
regaturn
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1:12pm Mon 11 Mar 13
FrannieB
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1:35pm Mon 11 Mar 13
NEWPORT HAS DIED - CWMBRAN HAS THRIVED -
REASON - FREE PARKING AND THE ABSENCE OF BOB BRIGHT AND HIS CABAL .
debbiehaile
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1:35pm Mon 11 Mar 13
ex-St. Julians boy
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1:36pm Mon 11 Mar 13
pinpong
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1:56pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Ok things were not wonderful with the last council but at least they had people with business backgrounds doing things unlike this lot who have just put all the old gang back into positions of power and the new young councillors are silenced as we saw with the Chris Evans incident.
The real answer is to get Booby, Pooley,Cocky Cockerham, Rancid Richards, Morris the mug, Clueless Critchley, Terrible Truman, Gormlus Giles,withering Whittcut, wasteful Wilcox and all the others to stand aside and let the younger talented labour councillors take over.
God Newport needs change and this report is frightening. Something needs to be done. GO BOOBY BRIGHT and take your clowns with you.
Tim NPT
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1:59pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Bobevans wrote:Yes they seem to have left out the Gallery (upstairs) area of the market, where only four stalls remain open and only one of those Gallery Mobile Phones is open the full week,And please Argus the Market is in Upper Dock St not Lower Dock St as mentioned in the article.
THe real situation is even worse. THe Indorr Market is almost empty. THe Argus appears to have only counted the empty units down stairs and even that count is inaccurate. Again with John Frost Square they have included non retail in the count
If you take out the excessive number of charity shops and the heare today gone tomorrow and non retail then you are looking at 50% empty
HurricaneShane
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2:00pm Mon 11 Mar 13
markus007
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2:21pm Mon 11 Mar 13
debbiehaile wrote:Good realistic post - non-retail business is the way forward, Newport town centre has more chance of success if it can develop commercially via ventures like Admiral and I would like to see the Council use more of the waterfront to attract business
I would suggest that we forget about Newport City Centre being a retail hub, and aim to make it a centre for business. De-pedestrianise the streets, allow for easy change of use from retail to office, and follow the lead taken by Admiral. Make the most of the location of Newport, less than 2hours from London on the train, close to Cardiff, Bristol, even Birmingham. The train and bus stations are most convenient for transport links. There's a cheap, council-run gym nearby (Newport Centre). So many plus points for businesses. In more office-centred environs, the kinds of businesses that will also thrive are coffee shops and cafes, restaurants, bars and convenience stores. The market can then become more of a centre for shopping that it currently is for most people. Police the streets better for litterers, removing the drunk and disorderly. Bingo, a long-term future for Newport that does not rely on shopping.
Bilbo Biggins
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2:29pm Mon 11 Mar 13
debbiehaile wrote:Think that's a very sensible post. Newport is in a great location transport wise so should make the most of it. Ever though about being a councillor?
I would suggest that we forget about Newport City Centre being a retail hub, and aim to make it a centre for business. De-pedestrianise the streets, allow for easy change of use from retail to office, and follow the lead taken by Admiral. Make the most of the location of Newport, less than 2hours from London on the train, close to Cardiff, Bristol, even Birmingham. The train and bus stations are most convenient for transport links. There's a cheap, council-run gym nearby (Newport Centre). So many plus points for businesses. In more office-centred environs, the kinds of businesses that will also thrive are coffee shops and cafes, restaurants, bars and convenience stores. The market can then become more of a centre for shopping that it currently is for most people. Police the streets better for litterers, removing the drunk and disorderly. Bingo, a long-term future for Newport that does not rely on shopping.
welshmen
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3:19pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Unfortunately the NO PARKING any where for FREE was the catalyst for a shopping disaster from the start, i worked on the development of Cwmbran Town over forty years ago, even then it was obvious that Newport was going to struggle to retain it's retail out lets, it has to change and change quick.
First off get rid of pay for parking, Council rates free for shops that are losing money, higher rates for all the Newport City Supermarkets to offset that cost, they'l have to pay or lose millions, even go as far to restrict what they sell so that local City Center outlets can survive this triple dip.
People need disposable money to spend on these shops, that's after food shopping, this is where the Coallition Government can help, STOP all VAT for food and clothes, reduce the tax on beer in pubs, and if the Council do there bit you can come to Newport Center, park your car for free, do your Shopping, go for lunch in a pub for a social gathering and have a good moan about something else....
Glockers
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3:33pm Mon 11 Mar 13
It seems to me that the recession caused the closure of some places and then it all escalated from there. Once the news was out that M&S were relocating to Spytty that was the end and the decline gathered pace. Something should have been done sooner, I really think it's too late now.
PaulHalliday
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3:42pm Mon 11 Mar 13
The current council don't seem to care anymore.
Labour have ruined Newport for far too long
mep
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4:08pm Mon 11 Mar 13
HurricaneShane
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4:31pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Crazydad
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4:34pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Crazydad
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4:39pm Mon 11 Mar 13
plumbob
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4:39pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Tim NPT wrote:The market in Lower Dock Street is now ASDA but used to be a Livestock Market
Bobevans wrote:Yes they seem to have left out the Gallery (upstairs) area of the market, where only four stalls remain open and only one of those Gallery Mobile Phones is open the full week,And please Argus the Market is in Upper Dock St not Lower Dock St as mentioned in the article.
THe real situation is even worse. THe Indorr Market is almost empty. THe Argus appears to have only counted the empty units down stairs and even that count is inaccurate. Again with John Frost Square they have included non retail in the count
If you take out the excessive number of charity shops and the heare today gone tomorrow and non retail then you are looking at 50% empty
Independentvoter
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5:03pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Hopefully Mr Ward and The Argus team can give us some details on the numerous complaints to the manager of the new out-of-town Marks and Spencer store regarding lack of Disabled Access to their store.
Their disabled parking bays are opposite their store which means wheelchair users have to negotiate two-way traffic to get to the store. Then when you get to the other side there are no ramps for wheelchairs to mount the pavement. Disabled customers have to go further down the road to gain access.
Then you have the same drama getting out of their store. It's too dangerous for wheelchair user's to shop at their store.
They have four Mother and Pram Bays only directly outside their shop.
I have written to the manager firstly to complain, Secondly to suggest that in order for them to comply with The Disability Discrimination Act 1990 and not break the law, they could have 2 Disabled Bays and 2 mother and pram bays directly outside. I am awaiting an answer. Until then I will be shopping elsewhere.
Bad planning ! Surely the planners know the relevent laws. I do !
When I called M&S they said they had received lots of complaints and were aware of the problems regarding access issues. They couldn't tell me what the next stage was, they didn't have an action plan.
Hopefully The Argus will push M&S into providing wheelchair access for their disabled customers.
TJnewport
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5:10pm Mon 11 Mar 13
LongWang
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5:10pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Lastpost
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5:11pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Some of the smaller local shopping areas are suffering. The Chepstow Road area of Maindee is like Beirut.
Those in power have no vision. They squander funds on tasteless tatty things.
It will continue to die until someone brings wealth and prosperity back instead of housing those who only take and do not give back.
Magor
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5:41pm Mon 11 Mar 13
markus007
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5:48pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Lastpost wrote:What I don't understand is that we were told in 2010 that consumer spending was going to drag us out of this recession. As much as I dislike, classic old empty building, graffiti and people urinating in streets I don't think the ordinary joe in Newport can be blamed for this one. The seeds were probably sown a long time when the money and wealth was lost by departed industries and not replaced. Long before the financial downturn in 2008
It's not just the City Centre. Newport generally is filthy, unpleasant and unpopular. Some of the smaller local shopping areas are suffering. The Chepstow Road area of Maindee is like Beirut. Those in power have no vision. They squander funds on tasteless tatty things. It will continue to die until someone brings wealth and prosperity back instead of housing those who only take and do not give back.
amandaajd1
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6:04pm Mon 11 Mar 13
ShockWave
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6:21pm Mon 11 Mar 13
corpamassive
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6:36pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Shut the steel making at Llanwern and now years later after they have blown all our dough on the ryder cup we are up to our necks in it
corpamassive
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6:36pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Shut the steel making at Llanwern and now years later after they have blown all our dough on the ryder cup we are up to our necks in it
Manley
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7:08pm Mon 11 Mar 13
HurricaneShane wrote:I'd agree - but suggest JFS (rather than Commercial St.) and the bus station are flattened and turned into an open area.
close commerical street and make it into a residential park with grass, sculptures and benches and just focus on a few retail units within JFS and business units along bridge street, market street and upper and lower dock street. Allow spytty to be the dominant retail center but provide FREE buses to and from the site every half hour.
The City centre is suffering because of the promise of Friar's Walk, and while it continues to decline the prospect of it ever becoming a reality fades into the distance. And as others have suggested friars walk will not regenerate Commercial St. Retailers will just relocate.
The final nail in the coffin was Newport's abandonment of the university.
therichm10
says...
7:25pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Beggers.
Big issue.
Scumbags.
Foul language.
The streets stink to high heaven.
to many charity shops.
to many betting shops.
and of course why would anyone pay to park there car in a ghost town with no good shops? and how could i forget the best bit! one cant even walk around without getting there brains bashed in for looking at someone the wrong way!
Newports dead and thats that!!!
evans07
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7:30pm Mon 11 Mar 13
cath 872
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7:41pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Mervyn James
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7:48pm Mon 11 Mar 13
FrannieB wrote:Free parking won't cut it, this is a fallacy. Primarily people need a REASON to come to Newport, they are not coming here just to park ! If they did there are plenty of spaces for them, the problem is there is nothing for them to SEE, and no variety of any shops to visit.
THIS IS NOT A SUBTLE MESSAGE , NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE :
NEWPORT HAS DIED - CWMBRAN HAS THRIVED -
REASON - FREE PARKING AND THE ABSENCE OF BOB BRIGHT AND HIS CABAL .
The city centre is dead, the streets are some of the dirtiest places in South Wales, it is no use as a shopping centre, is family unfriendly, and hardly the night club/eatery capital of South Wales.
We've all lost confidence and any pride in Newport, I don't think most care any more and it shows.
russ angel
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7:50pm Mon 11 Mar 13
scraptheWAG
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8:30pm Mon 11 Mar 13
scraptheWAG
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8:34pm Mon 11 Mar 13
scraptheWAG
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8:36pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Magor
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8:48pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Mervyn James
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9:14pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Dai the Milk
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10:08pm Mon 11 Mar 13
erudite
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10:18pm Mon 11 Mar 13
P!
Dai the Milk
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10:19pm Mon 11 Mar 13
therichm10 wrote:You forgot to mention the free educational lessons on the compensation culture given to everyone along the length of Commercial Street about how to cheat and lie about your accidents and screw insurance companies, causing policy rates for the decent and honest to spiral upwards. The council sanction this. Deplorable.
Ok heres my reasons for newport being a dump!
Beggers.
Big issue.
Scumbags.
Foul language.
The streets stink to high heaven.
to many charity shops.
to many betting shops.
and of course why would anyone pay to park there car in a ghost town with no good shops? and how could i forget the best bit! one cant even walk around without getting there brains bashed in for looking at someone the wrong way!
Newports dead and thats that!!!
scraptheWAG
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10:32pm Mon 11 Mar 13
KarmaSuitsYa
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11:25pm Mon 11 Mar 13
scraptheWAG wrote:Ah - I can answer that one for you. Dozens of councils are putting up Council tax in anticipation of mass non-payment when the new benefit changes come into effect next month.
i would still like to know why the council tax is going up in newport 3% I thought eric pickles had said there had to be a referendum if the council wanted to put council tax up more than 2%.????
Perhaps newport is one of these.
PaulHalliday
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11:37pm Mon 11 Mar 13
www.facebook.com/you
newport
YazPad-But
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11:40pm Mon 11 Mar 13
erudite wrote:Perhaps that's it! Turn over control of the shopping area to Laura Buchanan. At least you can guarantee she'll use all the space!
Well NCC, you had the chance to keep M&S but as usual your head was in your nether regions.. One happy counclillor at least, commented that newport is now the 'Charity Shop Center' of Wales. I hope that makes you all proud. Sadly, there is nothing to be proud about. Our town centre is a 'dive,' & an embarrassing one at that. The situation needs to be addressed quickly, though I fear its too late. Newport...........RI
P!
Katie Re-Registered
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12:23am Tue 12 Mar 13
brainfreeze
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1:12am Tue 12 Mar 13
Llanmartinangel
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8:28am Tue 12 Mar 13
KarmaSuitsYa wrote:Wrong but good theory. £36milkion was given to WAG to distribute to councils so that they needn't raise council tax. WAG withheld it saying they wanted to use it for job creation. And we all believe them. Don't we?
scraptheWAG wrote:Ah - I can answer that one for you. Dozens of councils are putting up Council tax in anticipation of mass non-payment when the new benefit changes come into effect next month.
i would still like to know why the council tax is going up in newport 3% I thought eric pickles had said there had to be a referendum if the council wanted to put council tax up more than 2%.????
Perhaps newport is one of these.
pinpong
says...
9:32am Tue 12 Mar 13
YazPad-But wrote:Shes struggilng and n#t#
erudite wrote: Well NCC, you had the chance to keep M&S but as usual your head was in your nether regions.. One happy counclillor at least, commented that newport is now the 'Charity Shop Center' of Wales. I hope that makes you all proud. Sadly, there is nothing to be proud about. Our town centre is a 'dive,' & an embarrassing one at that. The situation needs to be addressed quickly, though I fear its too late. Newport...........RI P!Perhaps that's it! Turn over control of the shopping area to Laura Buchanan. At least you can guarantee she'll use all the space!
Christian Grail
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10:06am Tue 12 Mar 13
I do hope something can be done, it's about time business rates and rents were lowered to allow new businesses to grow, instead of the growing amount of charity shops and phone unlocking shops!
james jackson
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11:00am Tue 12 Mar 13
There were few brains in the outfit over the years, but a lot of feathering of nests along the way.
Unfortunately, the people believe what they're told at election time - that the big bad "other" parties will steal benefits and put people in the workhouse, whereas Labour will give them everything on a plate.
Except keeping roads in good repair and the streets clean and bringing business into town instead of sheds on the outskirts. Oh. well, we get the council we deserve!
billy boy 2
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11:45am Tue 12 Mar 13
merlin44
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12:10pm Tue 12 Mar 13
Bilbo Biggins
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12:34pm Tue 12 Mar 13
brainfreeze wrote:sorry
It smells of wee...
Michael Weedall
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1:30pm Tue 12 Mar 13
regaturn
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2:01pm Tue 12 Mar 13
Big Bus Driver
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2:25pm Tue 12 Mar 13
griff59
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2:33pm Tue 12 Mar 13
Ian MacKinlay
says...
5:39pm Tue 12 Mar 13
4:38pm Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News
Sub-heading 25 years Ago:
“It was disclosed that three private developers had their eyes on John Frost Square for major redevelopment.”
My comment there:
5:31pm Tue 12 Mar 13
25 YEARS AGO
●" It was disclosed that three private developers had their eyes on John Frost Square for major redevelopment."
Yes.
And a new Town Development Manager, Brian Adcock, had been brought in, and he was going to work wonders.
When I asked him at a talk he was giving, at a Small Business Club meeting, held in the Newport Centre in 1988, why the then new-to-be bus station would not or could not be built in front of the railway station, or even over the railway itself, he gave as a reason that Regalian Properties would not like it, because they wanted the town to be centred more around John Frost Square area, and that therefore is where the bus station had to be.
Strider
says...
5:43pm Tue 12 Mar 13
The next bright idea was the long term unemployed workshops for Newport's Loveable Chav scum on Commerical Road.. When you have to walk past 30 odd Chav's and listen to a mixture of obscence "F'KING and utterly Moronic gibberish "Safe Bra" Wikkid Sta" and the very best some chav saying in his broken English "They've got no respect for colours"!!!
I hope the Council do close some of Iffy's places down it can only better Newports image with the Chav Scum sorry Loveable Rogues enjoying themselves somewhere else..
BTW
What on High Street Is closing
Monsoon is up for sale and closing April 2
Peachy keens is closing in March so a poster commented on the other thread.. He/she was right about Bon Marche closing so is obviously right on Peachy Keens..
Thisisnotgwent reported River Island and Claire's are also going
The Charity shop in Mothercare is also up for sale obviously going..
As previous posters here mentioned the 'Argus' made no mention of the Market Stalls closing.. Three stalls left upstairs in the Market,
Clock Shop and Cafe both part Time and a Mobile Phone unlocking Shop..
Also all the Cambrian is being demolished I imagine the Council are terrified of losing 2 pubs..
Ian MacKinlay
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5:44pm Tue 12 Mar 13
billy boy 2 wrote:Sometime in the twenty-first century perhaps?
JF Square and lower dock street are empty becaue the council is suppose to be annoucing the start of the new development some time this decade?
See my comment above about twenty-five years ago, and the promised redevelopment then.
Regalian Properties, Brian Adcock, and all that !
A new bus station, even.
Wow.
Strider
says...
5:46pm Tue 12 Mar 13
Also could somebody tell me is Debenhams coming and when the work that would be well underway by Spring has still not been started?
Lastly any more shops closing in April or May?
Ian MacKinlay
says...
5:50pm Tue 12 Mar 13
How about the pigeon **** on all the litter bins and seats in the bus station.
Newport could move into the fertilizer exporting business; selling pigeon guano nitrogen fertilizer to the whole world.
Ian MacKinlay
says...
5:50pm Tue 12 Mar 13
How about the pigeon **** on all the litter bins and seats in the bus station.
Newport could move into the fertilizer exporting business; selling pigeon guano nitrogen fertilizer to the whole world.
Ian MacKinlay
says...
5:53pm Tue 12 Mar 13
Can you imagine it?
A Debenhams in Newport.
They'll be deluding themselves they are going to have a Harvey Nicks and Selfridges next.
A Harrods, even.
Poolerkev
says...
6:06pm Tue 12 Mar 13
The place stinks, is full of threatening drunks and druggies and every street looks like something from an inner city hovel.
It's not all down to the council. Shoppers desert it due to the lack of shops not a £1 parking charge. There is nothing to attract people there. At least in Cwmbran you feel safe walking around at all times of the day and evening.
City status? That was a joke when it was awarded. Lets face it, it is declining for so many reasons not a council who have been in power for a period of less than a year.
Stop moaning and put up for office yourselves or shut up.
Floppy backed
says...
6:39pm Tue 12 Mar 13
Ian MacKinlay wrote:And if I remember over 15 years ago the council wanted a pigeon cull but the "fluffy bunny crew" said it was cruel and look again what public pressure does. People with opinions with no idea what they are talking about. Would these people like to respond now????
Never mind the chewing gum.
How about the pigeon **** on all the litter bins and seats in the bus station.
Newport could move into the fertilizer exporting business; selling pigeon guano nitrogen fertilizer to the whole world.
Floppy backed
says...
6:42pm Tue 12 Mar 13
Mervyn James
says...
7:16pm Tue 12 Mar 13
Floppy backed wrote:Pigeons are vermin, and disease carriers. We should be culling them, in London they have shooting parties with air guns to get rid of them. If it isn't the birds its the gum chewing morons who dump it everywhere. At night the chavs and drunks take over and vomit in the streets while throwing fast food anywhere they please. even animals behave better.
Ian MacKinlay wrote:And if I remember over 15 years ago the council wanted a pigeon cull but the "fluffy bunny crew" said it was cruel and look again what public pressure does. People with opinions with no idea what they are talking about. Would these people like to respond now????
Never mind the chewing gum.
How about the pigeon **** on all the litter bins and seats in the bus station.
Newport could move into the fertilizer exporting business; selling pigeon guano nitrogen fertilizer to the whole world.
regaturn
says...
7:19pm Tue 12 Mar 13
Poolerkev wrote:I do agree,however on a positive note we do have the biggest charity shop in Wales and you are never more than 20 yards from a Big Issue seller.
More drivel from the Newport whiners. Just realise it, the place is a dump. You got some people saying how good it used to be then saying 50 years of Labour decline. So were Labour to be praised for past success or not?
The place stinks, is full of threatening drunks and druggies and every street looks like something from an inner city hovel.
It's not all down to the council. Shoppers desert it due to the lack of shops not a £1 parking charge. There is nothing to attract people there. At least in Cwmbran you feel safe walking around at all times of the day and evening.
City status? That was a joke when it was awarded. Lets face it, it is declining for so many reasons not a council who have been in power for a period of less than a year.
Stop moaning and put up for office yourselves or shut up.
scraptheWAG
says...
7:44pm Tue 12 Mar 13
Llanmartinangel wrote:YOUR JOKING they are the ones that put businesses off with welsh language and the severn bridge tolls give me strength
KarmaSuitsYa wrote:Wrong but good theory. £36milkion was given to WAG to distribute to councils so that they needn't raise council tax. WAG withheld it saying they wanted to use it for job creation. And we all believe them. Don't we?
scraptheWAG wrote:Ah - I can answer that one for you. Dozens of councils are putting up Council tax in anticipation of mass non-payment when the new benefit changes come into effect next month.
i would still like to know why the council tax is going up in newport 3% I thought eric pickles had said there had to be a referendum if the council wanted to put council tax up more than 2%.????
Perhaps newport is one of these.
Poolerkev
says...
7:49pm Tue 12 Mar 13
scraptheWAG wrote:It's called jobs growth wales. Look it up and make educated posts instead of daft comments.
Llanmartinangel wrote:YOUR JOKING they are the ones that put businesses off with welsh language and the severn bridge tolls give me strength
KarmaSuitsYa wrote:Wrong but good theory. £36milkion was given to WAG to distribute to councils so that they needn't raise council tax. WAG withheld it saying they wanted to use it for job creation. And we all believe them. Don't we?
scraptheWAG wrote:Ah - I can answer that one for you. Dozens of councils are putting up Council tax in anticipation of mass non-payment when the new benefit changes come into effect next month.
i would still like to know why the council tax is going up in newport 3% I thought eric pickles had said there had to be a referendum if the council wanted to put council tax up more than 2%.????
Perhaps newport is one of these.
Fool.
scraptheWAG
says...
7:52pm Tue 12 Mar 13
Wazproud
says...
9:34pm Tue 12 Mar 13
Do these people in power live in Newport or are they stored away in there fancy houses were i bet their roads are cleaned every week and not a drop of litter in sight, not to mention dog crap that paves my streets.
Newport use to have some credit as a Market town were people felt proud of there place to live and work. shame its become the poor DUMP IT IS. regeneration my god, it will take years to pull this Rabbit out of the Hat. im now 48 years of age and miss Gwyn's on stow hill like mad. i cant buy a decent pair of jeans unless i pay London prices in 1 or two small sops that are left.
Do i give up ,that's the ? or move to a brighter place. YAWNNNNNN.
Sara214
says...
11:25pm Tue 12 Mar 13
merlin44 wrote:Great post!
WE BECAME A 'CITY' why I'll never know because from that moment on it's just gone downhill thanks to the amazing council) . I wonder if any of them ever visit the town to see what they are doing ( or not doing) to it . I was born close to the centre in Railway street before they tore it down .They destroyed our wonderful Lyceum Theatre, & gradually have totally destroyed everything else. I remeber all the lovely shops in High street, bustling commercial street . There was E G Taylor, Reynolds department stores, many grocers, lots of fashion shops, & so much going on plus in the centre stage the Westgate Hotel a genuine piece of our history in the Chartist uprising . I look at that building now & think what have they done to it . It looks dirty & unkempt .Whatever they have done to the inside could never replace the spleandour it held with it's magnificent staircase ( ideal for wedding photo's as I know) . I was recently speaking to a shop owner who is closing down & the reason is because of the work being done in high st they have to move out but the council 'in their wisdom' won't offer a concession on the rent for another property in the town so it means they could not afford to move elsewhere in the town . What is the matter with this council have they no idea what damage they are doing . It is pitiful to walk from the bottom of stow hill along commercial street -there is nothing . Perhaps instead of these rather stupid posters supposidely telling us what is going to happen ( which I doubt -empty promises again) they should get all the old photos of Commercial Street, High St, The market & the Arcades in high street blow them up so people could see what it was like & how they have ruined it.Well done Newport Council ---Everything You Touch Turns To Dust . broken Promises yet again.
scraptheWAG
says...
7:30am Wed 13 Mar 13
Poolerkev wrote:the only jobs growth in wales is in the public sector - the WAG now employees 5000 more than Honda in swindon and they actually produce something
scraptheWAG wrote:It's called jobs growth wales. Look it up and make educated posts instead of daft comments.
Llanmartinangel wrote:YOUR JOKING they are the ones that put businesses off with welsh language and the severn bridge tolls give me strength
KarmaSuitsYa wrote:Wrong but good theory. £36milkion was given to WAG to distribute to councils so that they needn't raise council tax. WAG withheld it saying they wanted to use it for job creation. And we all believe them. Don't we?
scraptheWAG wrote:Ah - I can answer that one for you. Dozens of councils are putting up Council tax in anticipation of mass non-payment when the new benefit changes come into effect next month.
i would still like to know why the council tax is going up in newport 3% I thought eric pickles had said there had to be a referendum if the council wanted to put council tax up more than 2%.????
Perhaps newport is one of these.
Fool.
Stan Edwards
says...
10:45am Wed 13 Mar 13
Modus failed and still they keep plugging away."Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
Bob Bright at the time of Modus celebrated Boots and M&S leaving Commercial Street for Friar's Walk. Well Bob, your wheels come off! Portas? You must be joking; it is Portas thinking that has this lot in the pickle they are in now.
DavidMclean
says...
12:47pm Wed 13 Mar 13
Any why waste more money on developments. If they can't get what they've already got working, what makes them think a new development will work.
Fix what's there before throwing good money after bad.
sillybilly43
says...
1:27pm Wed 13 Mar 13
debbiehaile wrote:"Bingo a long term future"? I think not lol
I would suggest that we forget about Newport City Centre being a retail hub, and aim to make it a centre for business. De-pedestrianise the streets, allow for easy change of use from retail to office, and follow the lead taken by Admiral. Make the most of the location of Newport, less than 2hours from London on the train, close to Cardiff, Bristol, even Birmingham. The train and bus stations are most convenient for transport links. There's a cheap, council-run gym nearby (Newport Centre). So many plus points for businesses. In more office-centred environs, the kinds of businesses that will also thrive are coffee shops and cafes, restaurants, bars and convenience stores. The market can then become more of a centre for shopping that it currently is for most people. Police the streets better for litterers, removing the drunk and disorderly. Bingo, a long-term future for Newport that does not rely on shopping.
sillybilly43
says...
1:42pm Wed 13 Mar 13
Newport COuncil, you should hang your heads in shame. COuldn,t wait to leave the dirty place
sunrise123
says...
4:41pm Wed 13 Mar 13
Bobevans
says...
6:06pm Wed 13 Mar 13
Nevasleep wrote:Mores bus services are being extended to serve Newport retail parl. The R2 will serve the reatail park from the begining of April
Well I think soon we'll have to build the new bus station over Spytty, considering how many shops have relocated there.
Bobevans
says...
6:13pm Wed 13 Mar 13
Independentvoter wrote:THe outside of the store has nothing to do with M&S.
Who mentioned M&S in Spytty ?
Hopefully Mr Ward and The Argus team can give us some details on the numerous complaints to the manager of the new out-of-town Marks and Spencer store regarding lack of Disabled Access to their store.
Their disabled parking bays are opposite their store which means wheelchair users have to negotiate two-way traffic to get to the store. Then when you get to the other side there are no ramps for wheelchairs to mount the pavement. Disabled customers have to go further down the road to gain access.
Then you have the same drama getting out of their store. It's too dangerous for wheelchair user's to shop at their store.
They have four Mother and Pram Bays only directly outside their shop.
I have written to the manager firstly to complain, Secondly to suggest that in order for them to comply with The Disability Discrimination Act 1990 and not break the law, they could have 2 Disabled Bays and 2 mother and pram bays directly outside. I am awaiting an answer. Until then I will be shopping elsewhere.
Bad planning ! Surely the planners know the relevent laws. I do !
When I called M&S they said they had received lots of complaints and were aware of the problems regarding access issues. They couldn't tell me what the next stage was, they didn't have an action plan.
Hopefully The Argus will push M&S into providing wheelchair access for their disabled customers.
Bobevans
says...
6:15pm Wed 13 Mar 13
scraptheWAG wrote:That only applies in England. The Assembly decided they did not want to cap Council tax in Wales
i would still like to know why the council tax is going up in newport 3% I thought eric pickles had said there had to be a referendum if the council wanted to put council tax up more than 2%.????
Bobevans
says...
6:27pm Wed 13 Mar 13
The redevelopment has been badly managed from day obne in fact I would not callit managed. It just drifts along from year to year with the strategy cchanging by the year.
The current planned redevelopment is ill thought out and has a high chance of failing
The major shoping area in Newport is now Newport retail park. High Street shopping is in steep decline
There is a place for the city centre but it needs to be far smaller that at present and more leisure oraintated.
Newport council need to clean the town up and deal with the seroios alcohol problems in the town
They need to restrict the number of charity shops. Five is enough in the town centre
WE need people capable of managing a redevelopment at present we do not have this. Newport Council & Newport unlimited just adopt the shrug the shoulder approach and say its not our problem
If no one is driving the project forward and ensuring it is keeping to the timescales and budget it will not happen
rightsideup
says...
8:00pm Wed 13 Mar 13
Poolerkev
says...
8:02pm Wed 13 Mar 13
rightsideup wrote:Typical Newport fool!
Wilkinsons closing?...
regaturn
says...
9:45pm Wed 13 Mar 13
bubbles17
says...
10:02pm Wed 13 Mar 13
It is with regret that we at Infusion bar of 16 High St, have to announce the closure of the bar next month.
Another establishment closing down on the Newport High St, due to many leading factors.
Yes 1 of them being the demise of the High St, with the high rates demands that are levied on us whilst the High St has been shut for the last 9 months. In that time our trading figures have dropped by 72%. We cannot afford these rates during a time when our streets look like a war zone. Since the new road has been laid our front porch way & cellar gets flooded out every time it rains, and nobody has bothered to look into why or how to stop it (clever designers). The drainage system has become blocked with a massive H & S problem, but nobody has been to look at this since December.
It seems to be the centre is dying without any thought to collateral damage to existing trading patterns in the High St and the livelihood of those involved, as long as developers have there shillings for the plans they do not care about the traders. The pound shops, cash converter shops and charity shops are the only places left in Newport now.
Sadly we am not the first or neither will we be the last in this mass exodus that the council have created.
Most of the general public that were coming to the City Centre in the evenings/ nights have stopped coming as taxis can no longer get to the bar, they have to walk distances through very hostile gangs that are allowed to loiter around all night selling drugs, starting fights, looking to mug people and be a threat to everyone within the High St area.
There is/was a system within Newport nighttime economy that was there to protect the public, where all the scrotes, chavs and thugs that do cause trouble were banned from the city centre, this was brought in to make the city a safer place to drink in and enjoy yourself, however it has never been implemented properly as too many bars do not want to lose the bad trade that they have got. Hence why the nice people do not enter Newport anymore. 75% of the trade within the city is bad trade, hence why the 75% that was nice trade has gone.
For all the Nice people that have visited us in Infusion, I am sad to say another of your safe pubs has now gone. We have always had a strong door policy of keeping the riff raff out and letting people come in, relax, have a good time all in a safe environment.
So yes, If we had any money left we would be looking to open a bar in the Spytty retail park or Cwmbran as that is where everybody is heading.
JENKO1965
says...
10:05pm Wed 13 Mar 13
scraptheWAG
says...
10:37pm Wed 13 Mar 13
Poolerkev
says...
7:27am Thu 14 Mar 13
scraptheWAG wrote:I'm a labour voter and worked all my life. Best way to revive Newport is scarp the WG!
i did walk though the town the other saturday and the amount of Labour voters (benefit billies) that walked though the run down tip is unbelivable
One trick pony?
Poolerkev
says...
7:28am Thu 14 Mar 13
snafu1
says...
7:43am Thu 14 Mar 13
scraptheWAG wrote:How the hell do you know they vote ,let alone for which party if you have this gift please drop me a line with the winning lottery numbers starting with fridays draw!!!!!!!!!!!!
i did walk though the town the other saturday and the amount of Labour voters (benefit billies) that walked though the run down tip is unbelivable
Independentvoter
says...
5:52pm Thu 14 Mar 13
M&S need to act very soon !
regaturn
says...
7:15pm Thu 14 Mar 13
bubbles17 wrote:Unfortunately the police are to blame for much of this, ever since response policing was brought in 4 years ago, patrols of the centre have more or less ceased, apart from our PCso's who finish at midnight. The police only ever attend after the event, they no longer patrol in order to prevent incidents escalating, it will only get worse, but the powers that be will continue to insist that crime figures are down,the poster outside police HQ is testimony to this, lies,**** lies and gwent police statistics!
ANOTHER GOOD OUTLET SHUTTING DOWN.
It is with regret that we at Infusion bar of 16 High St, have to announce the closure of the bar next month.
Another establishment closing down on the Newport High St, due to many leading factors.
Yes 1 of them being the demise of the High St, with the high rates demands that are levied on us whilst the High St has been shut for the last 9 months. In that time our trading figures have dropped by 72%. We cannot afford these rates during a time when our streets look like a war zone. Since the new road has been laid our front porch way & cellar gets flooded out every time it rains, and nobody has bothered to look into why or how to stop it (clever designers). The drainage system has become blocked with a massive H & S problem, but nobody has been to look at this since December.
It seems to be the centre is dying without any thought to collateral damage to existing trading patterns in the High St and the livelihood of those involved, as long as developers have there shillings for the plans they do not care about the traders. The pound shops, cash converter shops and charity shops are the only places left in Newport now.
Sadly we am not the first or neither will we be the last in this mass exodus that the council have created.
Most of the general public that were coming to the City Centre in the evenings/ nights have stopped coming as taxis can no longer get to the bar, they have to walk distances through very hostile gangs that are allowed to loiter around all night selling drugs, starting fights, looking to mug people and be a threat to everyone within the High St area.
There is/was a system within Newport nighttime economy that was there to protect the public, where all the scrotes, chavs and thugs that do cause trouble were banned from the city centre, this was brought in to make the city a safer place to drink in and enjoy yourself, however it has never been implemented properly as too many bars do not want to lose the bad trade that they have got. Hence why the nice people do not enter Newport anymore. 75% of the trade within the city is bad trade, hence why the 75% that was nice trade has gone.
For all the Nice people that have visited us in Infusion, I am sad to say another of your safe pubs has now gone. We have always had a strong door policy of keeping the riff raff out and letting people come in, relax, have a good time all in a safe environment.
So yes, If we had any money left we would be looking to open a bar in the Spytty retail park or Cwmbran as that is where everybody is heading.
scraptheWAG
says...
7:23am Fri 15 Mar 13
snafu1 wrote:all lazy chavs vote labour as they assume the cons will cut their disability crap and job seekers i call them lazy scum labour call them "the most vulnerable members of our society.
scraptheWAG wrote:How the hell do you know they vote ,let alone for which party if you have this gift please drop me a line with the winning lottery numbers starting with fridays draw!!!!!!!!!!!!
i did walk though the town the other saturday and the amount of Labour voters (benefit billies) that walked though the run down tip is unbelivable
Nataliee93
says...
9:35am Fri 15 Mar 13
Why do we need MOREA retail space?!! Thats more empty spaces to add to their chart of empty shops!
catlady wales
says...
5:23am Sun 24 Mar 13
RDW 74
says...
3:47pm Sun 31 Mar 13
It's a shame that all the money invested of 'improving' Newport has had the opposite effect. Rates are also too expensive which is why shops are closing or moving to retail parks.
Retail parks are more accssible, convienient and has free parking.
Bobevans says...
9:23am Mon 11 Mar 13
If you take out the excessive number of charity shops and the heare today gone tomorrow and non retail then you are looking at 50% empty