'More firms needed for fight to save Newport city centre' (From South Wales Argus)
Get involved: Send your photos, video, news & views by texting ARGUS NEWS to 80360 or email
us
'More firms needed for fight to save Newport city centre'
10:10am Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News
LOOKING FOR POSITIVES: Paul Cotton, of Brew coffee shop
NEWPORT Independent Traders group has urged more businesses to join them in their fight to revitalise the city centre after a shocking survey revealed more than a quarter of shops in the area were vacant.
The Argus survey, published on Monday, further highlighted the struggles of the city centre.
The Newport Independent Traders group was set up at the start of this year and is looking at ways to promote their businesses across the city, and to try to turn around the situation highlighted in the survey.
One such scheme has been the creation of a map with details and directions of all the other businesses in the scheme, which will be displayed in members’ businesses.
Temporary chairman of the group Paul Halliday said: “Although national brands have been leaving Newport and the trading situation is still difficult there are independents here who still care deeply about Newport and want to see it succeed. The level of empty shops in the city is obviously disturbing and definitely a reality.
“The big difference between the national chains and the independents is that for the independents this is their home too and not just their business.
“If we can attract more members we are looking at various schemes, including potentially launching a loyalty card scheme which could be used in all the businesses who join them, and things like that.
“We hold regular meetings and any new members are always welcome. At our next meeting Liberal Democrat AM Eluned Parrot is going to be coming along to listen to how the Welsh Assembly could be helping us, so we are trying to be proactive.”
Paul Cotton, who co-runs coffee shop Brew and is a member of the group, added: “It is easy to see the negatives in Newport at the moment but if people only think ‘well, Newport’s a bit rubbish, I’m going to avoid it’, then nothing will change.
“The whole aim of our group is to try to make people aware, perhaps, of businesses which they didn’t know were here.”
The next meeting of the Independent Traders group will be at Brewcoffee shop in Station St
Comments(9)
Ian MacKinlay
says...
4:21pm Wed 13 Mar 13
philelgar wrote:Hi Philelgar, What you say is quite sensible, but that quality does not necessarily extend to politicians.
Seeing as the council is loosing so much in rates, why not reduce the rates to current business in the town center and for new customers aswell that's a win win situation surely.
I do not know the full details, but as I undestand it, Newport Council only collects the rates on behalf of, I think, the central Government, i.e. Westminster, or the UK Government, if you prefer. Westminster then decides what it is going to give back to Wales with various strings attached.
It is good that a Member of the Welsh Assembly, Eluned Parrot is going along to a meeting of the Newport Traders Group.It will be interesting to see what she has to say on the matter. I suspect however that the answer will be to first get the control of the rates paid by businesses devolved to the Welsh Government, and then to make sure that if this happens, local councils such as Newport can have a meaningful interest in behaving more usefully than they are able to do at present in such matters.
Our Westminster MPs, Paul Flynn and Jessica Morden need to be lobbied to ensure their support on this matter.
It ain't going to happen overnight but a start can be, and should be made, pronto.
Ian MacKinlay
says...
4:25pm Wed 13 Mar 13
Yes. But when?
Ian MacKinlay
says...
4:30pm Wed 13 Mar 13
philelgar wrote:Hi Philelgar, What you say is quite sensible, but that quality does not necessarily extend to politicians.
Seeing as the council is loosing so much in rates, why not reduce the rates to current business in the town center and for new customers aswell that's a win win situation surely.
I do not know the full details, but as I undestand it, Newport Council only collects the rates on behalf of, I think, the central Government, i.e. Westminster, or the UK Government, if you prefer. Westminster then decides what it is going to give back to Wales with various strings attached.
It is good that a Member of the Welsh Assembly, Eluned Parrot is going along to a meeting of the Newport Traders Group.It will be interesting to see what she has to say on the matter. I suspect however that the answer will be to first get the control of the rates paid by businesses devolved to the Welsh Government, and then to make sure that if this happens, local councils such as Newport can have a meaningful interest in behaving more usefully than they are able to do at present in such matters.
Our Westminster MPs, Paul Flynn and Jessica Morden need to be lobbied to ensure their support on this matter.
It ain't going to happen overnight but a start can be, and should be made, pronto.
sunrise123
says...
4:44pm Wed 13 Mar 13
pbhj
says...
9:26pm Wed 13 Mar 13
Never understood why the council don't already do this to support independent traders - have a large street plan at either end of town like malls do at their entrances.
Independents are more likely to keep money in the town so deserve more support like this IMO.
There used to be a map showing council attractions only (may be still there?).
Costs could have been gathered by sponsorship from chain stores wishing to be on the maps.
sperduti
says...
9:26pm Wed 13 Mar 13
some thing should have been done as soon as the rot was starting to set in !! like the lysaghts club was left to rot before some thing was done same with the westgate hotel and the kings hotel all left empty !!! lovely buildings going to waste !! shame on you who ever is responsible for letting newport go down the pan !! good job we got cardiff cwmbran bristol to shop !!
PaulHalliday
says...
1:39pm Thu 14 Mar 13
join us on www.facebook.com/you
newport
if you're fed up with the state of Newport join us as we try and look at what can be done, open discussion about the issues that matter to you.”
Ian MacKinlay
says...
2:46am Fri 15 Mar 13
PaulHalliday wrote:"the meeting is at 6pm".
the meeting is at 6pm
join us on www.facebook.com/you
newport
if you're fed up with the state of Newport join us as we try and look at what can be done, open discussion about the issues that matter to you.”
Yes, but what day/date?
philelgar says...
12:11pm Wed 13 Mar 13