What was the effect of the ABP Newport Wales Marathon?

THE ABP Newport Wales Marathon has been almost universally hailed as a success, with businesses and organisers clamouring to express their excitement and gratitude.

The event was expected to draw 30,000 people to the city on Sunday and while numbers didn’t quite reach those heights, the spectacle of thousands of brightly coloured runners pounding the streets and roads of Newport and the Gwent levels was something that won’t be soon forgotten.

But with the event set to stay in the city for another two cycles, it is worth taking a closer look at the impact on Newport.

For instance, although 10,000 runners were registered to run, the actual number seems to have been far less.

The race itself was delayed twice due to issues caused by traffic congestion, after only one park and ride service was set up at the Office for National Statistics building on Cardiff Road.

While businesses within Friars Walk are sure to have taken full advantage of their position right on the start line, what about the benefits for the rest of the city centre?

And, with the future of the Gwent Levels already in doubt as plans for an M4 relief road through the protected flatlands take shape, will showcasing the beauty of the area focus minds on it’s possible demise?

Of the nearly 6,000 expected to run the marathon, Run 4 Wales have confirmed that it was almost half this number who actually lined up on the day.

A spokesman explained: “We generally expect a 10 to 15 percent drop out race on race day. People can’t make it, or don’t turn up. We also had a high number of people transfer to the 10K when they found out they could.

“We stopped issuing tickets for the marathon at just under the 6,000 mark, but a lot of those were bought in bulk by corporations and charities who can’t always fill their quota on the day.”

The start of the marathon was delayed twice as the city roads creaked under the pressure of tens of thousands of visitors.

But next year, Run 4 Wales have confirmed they are considering multiple park and ride locations to ease the strain.

With the next marathon potentially being televised, and a possible increase in entrants, this sounds like a good move.

The spokesman for Run 4 Wales added: “Everyone who used the park and ride got to the start line, but that was the reason for the delays. It came down in the end to this being the marathon’s first year.

“Next year we may put the park and ride in a few different locations to ease the flow of traffic.

“Run 4 Wales have yet to hold our official debrief, so it’s too early to say how many tickets we will put up for sale in future marathons. But as a first year we coped very well with the numbers.

“We are also hoping that it will be televised next year, and we have a really good relationship with the BBC, who we hope will get involved.”

The carnival atmosphere and tens of thousands of potential customers brought obvious economic benefits to the city.

At the front of the queue to take advantage of this was Friars walk who, as a key sponsor, had a prime location right on the start line.

Lucas Hilliard is a supervisor at Friars Walk’s Draco Lounge cafe, which took full advantage of being in the thick on it on Sunday.

Mr Hilliard said: “It was just brilliant. We were packed from the moment we opened the doors at 8am.

“We ended up serving about 500 coffees, where usually we would do 100 or so in a day. The atmosphere was electric with everyone just outside, and everyone was having a great time.

“We had to run out and get more milk from Sainsbury’s twice, so it’s safe to say that it was good for business.”

Friars Walk Centre Director, Simon Pullen, summed it up by saying: “The ABP Newport Wales Marathon was a fantastic event and I’m proud that we were an event partner.

“We’ve had some great initial feedback from our tenants and I’m looking forward to hearing just how much money has been brought into the local economy.”

But what about businesses not located in Friars Walk? Newport Business Improvement District manager Kevin Ward said there was a lot to learn from the inaugural event.

“It was a fantastic day for the city,” he said.

"Many cafes and coffee shops, who either opened early or specially for the day, were rewarded with plenty of trade.

"There are always lessons to be learned from new events. To that end, the BID has already opened dialogue with the organisers and the council about how the benefits of the marathon can be extended to the wider city centre, particularly the Commercial Street, Bridge Street, Cambrian Road and High Street areas."

Much of the marathon route took runners through the under-threat Gwent Levels. With an M4 relief road on the horizon, concern over the future of this unique habitat is growing.

The Welsh Government and Newport City Council have pledged to invest £210,000 into the future of the Gwent Levels over the next three years, courtesy of marathon revenue.

But, the Gwent Wildlife Trust says questions remain about the future of the marathon and the investment of taxpayers’ money, should the proposed new M4 go ahead.

Chief Executive Ian Rappel said: “Investment in the precious landscape that is the Gwent Levels via the Newport Marathon, is good news and we hope shows real recognition from Welsh Government and Newport City Council that this area is beneficially important to the future of the marathon, green leisure in Gwent and to local people and wildlife generally.

“However, the current marathon route would be destroyed by the proposed M4 route, so what does this mean for the investment and the future of such an event on the Gwent Levels?

“Newport Council and Welsh Government need to consider the investment they are pledging to the marathon using taxpayers’ money and recognise the negative and destructive consequences that a new M4 motorway being built over the current marathon route will bring.

“This area is like no other in the UK, and that’s why we should cherish and showcase it as a green leisure hub, instead of destroying it and concreting over it with a motorway.”

Responding to the concerns of the Trust, a spokesman for the Welsh government said: “The Gwent Wildlife Trust is mistaken. The marathon route would be unaffected by construction of the M4 project.”

Despite lessons to be learned , the inaugural ABP Newport Wales Marathon should go down in history as a success.

Newport City Council leader Debbie Wilcox said: “The marathon was an amazing day for the city. It's the latest in our growing events programme showcasing our city to the world and we have again proved our worth as a venue for major events."