Taskforce to regenerate Newport city centre (From South Wales Argus)

Taskforce to regenerate Newport city centre

6:18pm Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By David Deans - Politics reporter

Taskforce to regenerate Newporty city centre

A MAJOR new taskforce is to examine how housing can regenerate Newport city centre.

Business minister Edwina Hart announced a 12-month Welsh Government-backed project to look at why businesses are struggling in the business district.

The Business Development Project follows lobbying from Newport council leader Bob Bright, and will work with a yet-to-be-announced private sector steering group.

Cllr Bright said it was tremendous news and is the first of a number of significant announcements in the coming weeks The move comes after an Argus survey found almost a quarter of the city centre's shops are lying empty. The project is thought to be the first of its kind in Wales.

Mrs Hart said: "We are aware of the challenges that require urgent focus and attention in Newport.

"But we also recognise that there are some real opportunities and we intend to identify these through working with the private sector on this business development project."

In a statement to Assembly members, Mrs Hart said the project's terms of reference will be:

Considering short, medium and long-term barriers to business growth in Newport.
Exploring opportunities for future business development.
Identifying solutions and making recommendations for the short, medium and long-term.

Ms Hart said she expects the project to work closely with the Welsh Government regeneration and housing department, placing a strong emphasis on the role of housing in the city centre as a means of regeneration.

A project manager will be funded through Mrs Hart's department, with the private-sector steering group formed to guide the manager's work.

They are expected to report back in six months time, after which the next six months will be spent putting into practice any measures thought needed.

The 2011 Mary Portas report proposed that the High Streets of the future should include not just shops but a mix that could include housing, offices, schools or other social, commercial or social enterprises.

Newport council has encouraged the use of the city centre for offices with Admiral planning to relocate its Newport business to the redeveloped Cambrian Centre.

BOB Bright said the announcement reveals the enormous amount of work the council is carrying out to turn the city around.

The Newport council Labour leader said he taken the concerns of the city's residents and firms to the Welsh Government.

Cllr Bright said: "Following a positive meeting with Edwina Hart, this is tremendous news. Not only have we been listened to, but there is a clear course of action being taken.

"We will work in partnership with Welsh Government to lever the full benefit of this project.

"This is the first of a number of significant announcements in the coming weeks that reveals the enormous amount of work being carried out by the council to turn the city's fortunes around.

He said the announcements will show "that the regeneration and future prosperity of the city are not just pipe dreams, but real opportunities firmly within our grasp."

Comments(45)

Howie' says...
6:57pm Wed 13 Mar 13

A number of us whilst discussing the plight of Newport on the old 'Your Say' about 3 years ago suggested bringing housing/ people to live in the town to stop the rot. If they are living in the town, as they do in Cardiff, there will be a demand for shops, restaurants etc.

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Adrian Williams says...
7:15pm Wed 13 Mar 13

Sounds good to me

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bobmech1 says...
7:20pm Wed 13 Mar 13

I thought that was what Newport Regeneration was supposed to do
More wasted money on most probably the same people who has already messed Newport up

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rightsideup says...
7:39pm Wed 13 Mar 13

Can the city centre afford to wait for another 12 months?....

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Dolieboy says...
8:12pm Wed 13 Mar 13

Howie' wrote:
A number of us whilst discussing the plight of Newport on the old 'Your Say' about 3 years ago suggested bringing housing/ people to live in the town to stop the rot. If they are living in the town, as they do in Cardiff, there will be a demand for shops, restaurants etc.

If I lived near the train station, it would be easier to catch a train to Cardiff to do some shopping.

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scraptheWAG says...
9:00pm Wed 13 Mar 13

well we have had newport unlimited now and now edwina hart if sure newport will look like monacco in 12 months time

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regaturn says...
9:38pm Wed 13 Mar 13

Unfortunately NEwport is a dead cause, more money will be wasted and nothing will be achieved, Newport has had it's day, get over it and move on!

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bubbles17 says...
9:49pm Wed 13 Mar 13

BLOB really that's the name

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bubbles17 says...
9:51pm Wed 13 Mar 13

MUST OF BEEN WAITING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TODAY.
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 85% 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

MUST OF BEEN WAITING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TODAY. 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 85% 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 bubbles17

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Wazproud says...
10:17pm Wed 13 Mar 13

Why waste money and enrich others pockets , when its been stated already by a Government in sight, (quote)The 2011 Mary Portas report proposed that the High Streets of the future should include not just shops but a mix that could include housing, offices, schools or other social, commercial or social enterprises.

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Bobevans says...
10:21pm Wed 13 Mar 13

Some of the brighter posters on here will have worked this out. ewpoprt Unlimited goes and they change the name on the door to BLOB

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Llanmartinangel says...
11:21pm Wed 13 Mar 13

This is the same Edwina Hart as was Health Minister? FFS with her track record you can move the bulldozers in now. The woman is an intellectual mollusc.

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Howie' says...
11:46pm Wed 13 Mar 13

Llanmartinangel wrote:
This is the same Edwina Hart as was Health Minister? FFS with her track record you can move the bulldozers in now. The woman is an intellectual mollusc.

I went to see her over a lie she told to the Western Mail when she was Health Secretary and she refused to see me, I then Emailed her and am still waiting for a reply. A total incompetent and a second class politician but worst of all she is a first class liar.

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ticaphil says...
12:45am Thu 14 Mar 13

This is great news. Reading some of the commets on this site the last few weeks, it would appear that many of you haven't travelled far in our small world. Towns like Bolton, Blackburn, Bury are all suffering. In fact, here in Wales Pontypool has become quite a different place to twenty five years ago and if you travel to Usk, there's nothing but one charity shop and a Spar. Listen, this is our city and only we can support it. If we don't like it, we have the choice to move. Try San Jose in Costa Rica where I think you'll find a thriving town centre but a hell of a lot of poverty, misery and crime than here. I know this town has its problems but there are bad people everywhere. What is needed is support for our city. I tell you, I've lived all over the world and yes, there's a lot of great places but for a good night's sleep, I wouldn't swap Newport for anywhere. In Spain, there's five million unemployed, they have the same problems as us.
The town centre - well it's never going to be New York and I wouldn't want it to be so. Things have already changed here. So what if HMV and M&S move out, let them go. They are overpriced anyway. You want to pay over the odds for things, then go and spend over at Spytty R.P. A town centre with a university, small businesses and more to come, regeneration of the station and some good architecture plus a new way of shopping. Together with good will from the council and support from us, the ratepayers. The recession may last a while yet and more shops will close, that's life. But let's see the positive side. Listen, nowhere is perfect...and if you have given up on the city, that's regrettable. However, I still maintain that we should just take a more global perspective.
Newport, I'm proud to be one of yours and will back you to the hilt. (From a non political 44 year old with NO axe to grind except against those who only see the bad in everything).

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cjwales1 says...
1:42am Thu 14 Mar 13

Hold on How much will this 'Task Force' cost the tax payer ???

For a fiver will streamline the entire process

1. No shops
2. No access
3. No affordable parking ( except for the area where there are no shops)
4. Better competition, Cwmbran, Cardiff, Bristol

So who do I send my bill to ??? Have just saved Newport a fortune by saying what any 'Task Force' will come up with after months of paid consultation !!!!!!

CJ

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Slider02 says...
5:09am Thu 14 Mar 13

Question - what the heck does any kind of housing development in a city Centre got to do with promoting serious inner city redevelopment ? (unless it is high rise apartments etc) Houses are for the suburbs - not city Centres, but then again anyone that is modern thinking and living in the real world outside of Newport would know this !

So how is this Blob scheme going to work ? Have they finally realized that the shops are decrepit and way too small for modern needs? - or are we going to be left with a load of pie in the sky idea`s that will be lost in a meaningless pile of Council planing delays - resulting in the money going elsewhere - again?

Only time will tell. Yes other Towns and cities across the UK are also suffering, but then again - Newport has always been the poor relation to everyone. simply because of the prevailing Cardiff this - or Bristol that attitude, Why worry what others councils are doing ? This is why Newport has been left to rot and fall apart whilst other city's have embraced and prospered with sometimes large scale and high-rise redevelopments - where as here in Newport, the City continues to stagnate as developments get shelved time and time again.

Even this so-called friars walk re-development is a scaled down former shadow of it`s original plans caused by planning delays (but the credit crunch got the blame) - So i have no faith in this fanciful plan whatsoever !

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snafu1 says...
7:05am Thu 14 Mar 13

Newport, wales own version of detroit city an acknowleged failed city,what newport needs to help allievate the dire problems we face is to attract well paid jobs to the area ,it is no fluke that newports demise has mirrored the rundown of its former major employer llanwern steelworks

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scraptheWAG says...
7:07am Thu 14 Mar 13

yes there will be consultations costing millions to tell people the obvious

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Woodgnome says...
8:32am Thu 14 Mar 13

We cant have it both ways. You cant hammer the Council for its lack of action (which is palpable) and then hammer Bob Blight again for trying to do something. Any decent plan will cost money.

However, before commissioning reports why doesn't this Council organised local public meetings to let the people contribute ideas?

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Lastpost says...
8:39am Thu 14 Mar 13

There is nothing wrong with Newport!

Ask the thousands of refugees, immigrants, buskers, vagrants and travellers who see it as paradise.

Newport tourist information in Eastern Europe is booming.

Be prepared for the next influx of benefit grabbing spongers seeking pavements of gold. If only they could be pre-warned they are just painted yellow, are normally dug up, covered in litter and dogs mess and are trodden on by toothless chavs, jigging about and shouting at each other whilst pointing vehemently with a staffie in tow.

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Mervyn James says...
9:21am Thu 14 Mar 13

An government investment scheme to invest in seriously ailing city centres, (And Newport is in that category), used only 7% of the funds available, maybe they feel what is the point investing in cities with shop closures.

Out of town centres might be better for those with transport, but not everyone has that and the bus services seem pretty dire,and you have to go to town first, not a prospect older people will look forward to, 4 bus journeys with heavy shopping and in cold or wet weather.

OOT shopping ignores a major sector of shoppers, the elderly. Since Maindee died the death, food shopping has become an real problem,and it is no use telling older people to go online and order it..

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Severn40 says...
10:01am Thu 14 Mar 13

Sorry this is classic Welsh Government. Order a review to repeat the facts and evidence already in the public domain. (Unless the review says something the minister dislikes and then the report has been to be suppressed).

Here's a short action plan:
1. Reverse the recent decision to delay the revaluation of business rates. Oops - Edwina has decided to delay that one.
2. Agree on arrangements following the demise of Newport Unlimited. oops - close it down and then fumble around for alternatives
3. Employ the project officer to talk to retailers and businesses about new opportunities. Remember new businesses in the city centre no longer qualify for start up grants.

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billy boy 2 says...
10:30am Thu 14 Mar 13

Offices Shops Entertainment markets ice rinks cinemas is needed to bring people into the town they have already tried housing nobody wanted it

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NakedDancer says...
1:02pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Lastpost wrote:
There is nothing wrong with Newport!

Ask the thousands of refugees, immigrants, buskers, vagrants and travellers who see it as paradise.

Newport tourist information in Eastern Europe is booming.

Be prepared for the next influx of benefit grabbing spongers seeking pavements of gold. If only they could be pre-warned they are just painted yellow, are normally dug up, covered in litter and dogs mess and are trodden on by toothless chavs, jigging about and shouting at each other whilst pointing vehemently with a staffie in tow.

I'm guessing this racist tosh is a troll not from. 2011 Census says 97% of Newport is British, including 89.9% white British and 0.1% traveller. Eastern European is a fraction of the 2.3% in the 'white other' category. Newport is a port town and has always welcomed everyone.

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monkeyboy70 says...
1:12pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Calling newport a city was a big mistake to start with, it just isn't no where near big enough. Who's idea was that and i bet there was a lot of money passed under the table for that alone. Newport is dead snd the continual influx of immagrants ( of which many are banned from charity shops for stealing ) will only make it worse. Newport..the worse place to live.

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NakedDancer says...
1:23pm Thu 14 Mar 13

monkeyboy70 wrote:
Calling newport a city was a big mistake to start with, it just isn't no where near big enough. Who's idea was that and i bet there was a lot of money passed under the table for that alone. Newport is dead snd the continual influx of immagrants ( of which many are banned from charity shops for stealing ) will only make it worse. Newport..the worse place to live.

Total uninformed racist nonsense. See census stats above. City status has nowt to do with size (see St Asaph, Bangor, Lisburn, Truro, Hereford etc). Take your fraud evidence to the police - and learn to spell immigrant !

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PaulHalliday says...
1:38pm 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.”

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NickWebb says...
2:09pm Thu 14 Mar 13

When I heard this news, I'll admit I started wondering whether a taskforce was more proactive than a focus group or an exploratory committee or any other such name these groups seem to take. The truth is, it could be a talking shop and it is valid to ask how this fits with the work of Newport Unlimited.

However, I do not see that we gain anything by writing the taskforce off before they have begun. Let's give it a chance and see if it can deliver.

There is a lot of grassroots action to try and improve the city already and hopefully the taskforce can work with these initiatives and further boost the centre.

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Leigh. says...
2:21pm Thu 14 Mar 13

This may help. Some peopl on the council live in Cwmbran, SO THEY DONT BLOODY CARE.

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NakedDancer says...
2:35pm Thu 14 Mar 13

billy boy 2 wrote:
Offices Shops Entertainment markets ice rinks cinemas is needed to bring people into the town they have already tried housing nobody wanted it

Agreed...a simple equation but hard to achieve in an economic downturn. Disagree your housing point though as there's high demand and occupation for those that have been built. More people creates demand for businesses...more businesses attract more people.

What is this obsession with shopping anyway ? I don't want Newport centre to be another huge overcrowded superficial soulless mall with endless food and stuff I don't need - I'll go to Spytty/Cwmbran/Brist
ol/Cardiff for that.

I'd like a more compact Newport city centre with some sizeable employers (like Admiral), proper adult restaurants/cafes/ba
rs with live music, cinema, ice rink etc and yes some specialist shops in the lovely buildings that Newport has. Too much to ask ? One problem is the Council don't own the buildings - so I guess its up to the owners to make the rents attractive.

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blackandamber says...
2:56pm Thu 14 Mar 13

We're all Doooooommmmed

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griff59 says...
3:22pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Whilst walking down Commercial Street this morning, I remembered why I had such fond memories of growing up in the TOWN. Then, unfortunately my eyes were drawn downwards again to street level after admiring all the wonderful Victorian architecture above the shops. This is what Newport Council have managed to destroy; the pride and loyalty of the TOWNs' people. We became a city and have gone down hill since then. Thank the likes of Rosemary Butler and her cronies at the WAG for the demise of Newport. A new Re generation project under yet another name; do us all a favour Booby and go take a jump off Town bridge!

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Slider02 says...
5:22pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Take several very large bulldozers - flatten the whole mess - - that they laughingly try and call a city center (a run down slum full of old useless piles of empty brick buildings laughingly called shops more like) Don`t care how old the buildings are flatten them anyways and rebuild from scratch - something New - Modern, high-rise, airy and god forbid - is actually attractive to the eye.

Darn - woke up to find that it was all a dream made up by a bunch of useless politicians from Cardiff that don`t care how run-down the city is anyways ! (as long as they can spend it all in their own city - the rest don`t mean anything.

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Dave on his Soapbox says...
6:13pm Thu 14 Mar 13

....at least the new Admiral offices will provide job opportunities for all the staff loosing their jobs as part of the takeover by Glamorgan uni.....
Most of the senior appointments have all gone to their people......and the admin staff in both have been offered voluntary redundancy terms for 'a limited period'...before the compulsory ones come about....as they did when the city campus opened....

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regaturn says...
8:43pm Thu 14 Mar 13

NakedDancer wrote:

Lastpost wrote:
There is nothing wrong with Newport!

Ask the thousands of refugees, immigrants, buskers, vagrants and travellers who see it as paradise.

Newport tourist information in Eastern Europe is booming.

Be prepared for the next influx of benefit grabbing spongers seeking pavements of gold. If only they could be pre-warned they are just painted yellow, are normally dug up, covered in litter and dogs mess and are trodden on by toothless chavs, jigging about and shouting at each other whilst pointing vehemently with a staffie in tow.
I'm guessing this racist tosh is a troll not from. 2011 Census says 97% of Newport is British, including 89.9% white British and 0.1% traveller. Eastern European is a fraction of the 2.3% in the 'white other' category. Newport is a port town and has always welcomed everyone.

Oh Gawd, another do gooder who probably thinks its great to give 0.7 of UK gdp as overseaes aid

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Magic Rat says...
1:22am Fri 15 Mar 13

regaturn wrote:

NakedDancer wrote:

Lastpost wrote:
There is nothing wrong with Newport!

Ask the thousands of refugees, immigrants, buskers, vagrants and travellers who see it as paradise.

Newport tourist information in Eastern Europe is booming.

Be prepared for the next influx of benefit grabbing spongers seeking pavements of gold. If only they could be pre-warned they are just painted yellow, are normally dug up, covered in litter and dogs mess and are trodden on by toothless chavs, jigging about and shouting at each other whilst pointing vehemently with a staffie in tow.
I'm guessing this racist tosh is a troll not from. 2011 Census says 97% of Newport is British, including 89.9% white British and 0.1% traveller. Eastern European is a fraction of the 2.3% in the 'white other' category. Newport is a port town and has always welcomed everyone.
Oh Gawd, another do gooder who probably thinks its great to give 0.7 of UK gdp as overseaes aid

The problem with Newport is that it is populated by people who are so bigotted, narrow minded and afraid of the way the world works. If you, regaturn, have nothing to contribute other then silly, immature, snide comments then I suggest you go back inside your cave and leave the rest of us in peace

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Ian MacKinlay says...
6:35am Fri 15 Mar 13

bobmech1 wrote:
I thought that was what Newport Regeneration was supposed to do
More wasted money on most probably the same people who has already messed Newport up

From the 'Welcome' on the 'Home' page of 'Newport Unlimited' :

"The newest city in Wales, Newport is also one of the most dynamic and business-friendly, a thriving destination attracting companies from all over the UK."

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Ian MacKinlay says...
6:39am Fri 15 Mar 13

bobmech1 wrote:
I thought that was what Newport Regeneration was supposed to do
More wasted money on most probably the same people who has already messed Newport up

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Ian MacKinlay says...
7:01am Fri 15 Mar 13

Magic Rat wrote:

regaturn wrote:

NakedDancer wrote:

Lastpost wrote:
There is nothing wrong with Newport!

Ask the thousands of refugees, immigrants, buskers, vagrants and travellers who see it as paradise.

Newport tourist information in Eastern Europe is booming.

Be prepared for the next influx of benefit grabbing spongers seeking pavements of gold. If only they could be pre-warned they are just painted yellow, are normally dug up, covered in litter and dogs mess and are trodden on by toothless chavs, jigging about and shouting at each other whilst pointing vehemently with a staffie in tow.
I'm guessing this racist tosh is a troll not from. 2011 Census says 97% of Newport is British, including 89.9% white British and 0.1% traveller. Eastern European is a fraction of the 2.3% in the 'white other' category. Newport is a port town and has always welcomed everyone.
Oh Gawd, another do gooder who probably thinks its great to give 0.7 of UK gdp as overseaes aid
The problem with Newport is that it is populated by people who are so bigotted, narrow minded and afraid of the way the world works. If you, regaturn, have nothing to contribute other then silly, immature, snide comments then I suggest you go back inside your cave and leave the rest of us in peace

" . . . and leave the rest of us in peace".

Presumably you are included in 'us'.

Presumably 'us' is people who live in Newport.

Presumably you live in Newport.

But "Newport is populated by people who are so bigoted, narrow minded and afraid of the way the world works." (sic).

So, logically, presumably that includes you.

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NakedDancer says...
4:08pm Fri 15 Mar 13

regaturn wrote:

NakedDancer wrote:

Lastpost wrote:
There is nothing wrong with Newport!

Ask the thousands of refugees, immigrants, buskers, vagrants and travellers who see it as paradise.

Newport tourist information in Eastern Europe is booming.

Be prepared for the next influx of benefit grabbing spongers seeking pavements of gold. If only they could be pre-warned they are just painted yellow, are normally dug up, covered in litter and dogs mess and are trodden on by toothless chavs, jigging about and shouting at each other whilst pointing vehemently with a staffie in tow.
I'm guessing this racist tosh is a troll not from. 2011 Census says 97% of Newport is British, including 89.9% white British and 0.1% traveller. Eastern European is a fraction of the 2.3% in the 'white other' category. Newport is a port town and has always welcomed everyone.
Oh Gawd, another do gooder who probably thinks its great to give 0.7 of UK gdp as overseaes aid

Oh gawd, another judgemental racist with nothing useful to contribute to a discussion.

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scraptheWAG says...
7:17am Sun 17 Mar 13

this task force is a gimick,

Labour know the idiots in newport will always vote for them morden and flyn have two safe seats.

Over the last ten years all the public sector jobs have been stripped out of newport , tax office passport office .

all the grants now get spent in cardiff 5000 now work (i use that word loosely) the WAG. So of course its boomed. and come the next election our two MP's will be yes morden and flyn.

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Independentvoter says...
11:53am Sun 17 Mar 13

We are wrong to blame Newport City Council for the current economic climate. Every Town and City's high streets in the UK are in the same mess.

What we can blame them for is the failure to put together an all party action plan.

Instead the political parties choose at council meetings to keep making cheap political shots at each other at our expence instead of sorting this mess out.

Maybe The Argus should ask the City Councillors for a serious debate on this issue not it's readers.

Final point - I wouldn't want to spend five minutes at night in the City Centre with all the stabbings, murders drunken brawls, muggings, noise, drugs, prostitution, shouting, swearing, music, clubbers, litter, beggars, taxis', let alone live and bring up a family there.

Would you ?

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scraptheWAG says...
5:59pm Sun 17 Mar 13

i blame the WAG all the public sector jobs were moved into cardiff , the welsh language puts businesses coming to wales should i go on

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Poolerkev says...
9:28am Tue 19 Mar 13

scraptheWAG wrote:
i blame the WAG all the public sector jobs were moved into cardiff , the welsh language puts businesses coming to wales should i go on

I too blame the WAG..... for the birth of one trick idiotic ponies like you.

Get a life!

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blackandamber says...
1:10pm Tue 19 Mar 13

If you want to know what's wrong with Newport just watch Abergavenny in the next few months now that Morrison's is going being built there, and see the shops closing one after the other and what was a nice little town die.

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Taskforce to regenerate Newport city centre (From South Wales Argus)

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