Traders and shoppers ‘lacking confidence’ in Newport city centre future

10:40am Thursday 13th September 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Ruth Mansfield

FOOTFALL: Despite shops closing, more people visited Newport city centre this year than last FOOTFALL: Despite shops closing, more people visited Newport city centre this year than last

As new figures show Newport is one of the worst places in the country for empty shops, RUTH MANSFIELD finds out whether improvements to city centre trading can be made NEWPORT is among the worst places in Great Britain for empty shops, with more than one in four shops now vacant, a new report shows.

A total of 28.6 per cent of the 367 shops in the retail core of Newport are empty according to the Local Data Company report, equal to around 105 shops.

The report states this is a 2.6 per cent rise from 12 months ago.

The current figure places Newport as the fifth worst performer in the UK for vacant shops in the medium centre category. A medium centre is one which has between 200 and 399 shops.

The report comes after the Local Data Company visited 485 town centres across Great Britain.

A number of shops had left the city centre and relocated to other areas of Newport such as Next,H&Mand Topshop, which moved to Spytty.

Meanwhile other stores such as Mothercare and Millets have closed as part of the chains’ national strategy to close stores across the UK.

President of Newport Chamber of Trade, Ken Ellis said he did think the redevelopment work planned for Newport would bring more confidence to the city but that traders needed to see evidence of the work going ahead.

He said: “Trading in Newport is very, very difficult and I do think there is a lack of confidence in what’s happening in the city.

“Once the redevelopment is happening, I think this will turn around and people will be more confident in Newport – but they need to see the spades in the ground first.”

The Argus reported last week how work to finish essential gas works in High Street and Commercial Street, which were originally planned to be finished in September, are now unlikely to be completed until December.

This has left traders worried about the effect this will have on Christmas shoppers.

Mr Ellis said he would be meeting with directors of Wales and West Utilities to say how “dismayed” he was with the time schedule of the gas works.

A spokeswoman for Newport council said it is “naturally disappointed” by the figures.

She said: “Newport’s city centre retail and leisure redevelopment continues to be a priority and with planning secured and the anchor store confirmed, work is set to begin next year. It will also provide more than 1,300 retail jobs.

“A number of units in the city have been deliberately left vacant following the completion of the compulsory purchase order of properties in John Frost Square in 2010.”

She said the council is urging businesses to relocate to the city following the official launch of the Alacrity Foundation in the city last week, which aims to help graduates form successful businesses.

Chairman of Newport Unlimited, Bill Mayne, said while the figures were “disappointing”, they ignore the bigger picture that is taking place in Newport.

He highlighted the redevelopment of the Market Quarter and the Friars Walk retail scheme, which has Debenhams confirmed as an anchor store.

He added that Friars Walk is one of only two city centre retail schemes going ahead in the UK outside the M25, and recent research from Queensberry Real Estate, the developers behind the new shopping centre, shows it will put Newport back into the top 100 UK shopping destinations.

He said: “As with locations across the UK, Newport is not immune from the current economic climate, however, unlike many towns and cities, it is benefiting from a multi-million pound regeneration programme that has a 31,000 sqmnew shopping centre at its heart.”

Centre visitor figures rise

DESPITE these empty shop figures, the Argus reported in July how Newport had seen one of the UK’s biggest yearon- year increases in city centre visitors.

The city saw a 7.6 per cent rise in the number of city centre visitors during the wettest June on record, compared with the same period last year making it the ninth highest climber across the UK.

But at the time, city traders said they had not noticed any increase.

Trade fall is no surprise

MELISSA Cave runs MC Dancewear in Newport Market.

She said: “I’m not surprised at all by the figure.

“It has been very quiet in the market and other traders have noticed a drop in custom.

“I think the council could work to make the place look more attractive and try and keep the centre tidier,” she added.

Changes ‘not soon enough’ for city

TRADERS said they weren’t surprised by the figure, with some saying more needed to be done to bring traders and custom back into the city centre.

● Johanna Davies, of Davies Florist, Upper Dock Street, said: “I do find it upsetting that there are so many empty shops around. I think a lot of it is to do with the council promoting shops to move out of town to places like Spytty.

“Something needs to be done such as holding an open market in the city centre a couple of days a week to bring people into Newport.”

● Lisa Martin, of Needhams Fishmongers, Newport Market, said: “I suppose it’s down to the recession and we’re still being affected by it, plus it’s tough to compete with places such as Cardiff and Cwmbran.

“The council is really pushing for things to be redeveloped and things are changing, but it’s not soon enough. I just hope it does improve.”

● Tony Elston, of Elston’s Butchers, Newport, said: “I think the problem is that too much work is being done at once and it’s having a huge impact on the city.

“I know the gas works need to be done but I think for now they should stop the works, make good and continue it after Christmas, otherwise it is going to be an abysmal Christmas for the whole city.”

Comments(51)

pinpong says...
11:39am Thu 13 Sep 12

Why is it that a council spokesperson always makes the comments. Wheres Bobby Bright. He should be answering these points. Its his fault. Since labour took over the city has gone down hill. Shame on you Bobby Bright and your friend John Richards.
At least Ed townsend had his hand on the rudder

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Magor says...
12:05pm Thu 13 Sep 12

The City Centre needs better access for cars.If it was Newport itself then the shops would have left altogether not moved to Spytty.Things have got worse since Sainsburys moved as a lot of people who shopped in the City Centre used that car park.

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Adrian Williams says...
12:17pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Free parking to match Cwmbran would be a simple and effective step

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Amberboy says...
1:08pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Newport is a dead town. We need to get rid of the scum and then hopefully attract some high grade shops. The city centre is currently catering for people who show no respect to Newport. What future do children have here? There is nothing here and all we do is continue to invest in rubbish. How much money has been wasted? Bobby Bright, pull your finger out son.

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dodo777 says...
1:21pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Putting money in peoples pokets is an idea.Money is being taken up by utility bills and food.Wait till it gets cold and things will get much worse.Back to the days of maggie thatcher.AWFUL.

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JoJoJoJo says...
1:36pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Adrian Williams wrote:
Free parking to match Cwmbran would be a simple and effective step
Well done Adrian. Perhaps you and I should run the council?

Newport is basically closed as far as shops are concerned. Other than charity shops and boarded up shops there's not much about anymore. If you walk into the "Gateway City" via High St you are greeted by charity shops and closed hotels, the bus station allows entrance to John Frost Square - it's closed, why bother? Remove the charity shops from the prominent places, bring back the shoppers and new business will soon appear. Not that I've got anything against the important and valuable work by charity shops, it's just the image they project. Any charity shops in the entrance to The Mall at Cribbs? There's plenty in Cwmbran yet none of them are grotty and next door to a boarded up shop. Cwmbran has it right, well done Torfaen!

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Bobevans says...
1:39pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Newport is poorly located for a modern shopping centre. It has very limited parking and cannot accomodated the large stores that people now want.

The article states that 28% of the shops in Newport are empty but the real figure is at least 5% higher if you take out the pop up hear today gone tomorrow shops and the endless charity and empty shop shops and the chaves tattoo & cash for gold shops

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Valleymonkey says...
1:42pm Thu 13 Sep 12

It's time for the WAG to step in and support Newport the way it's funded Cardiff for the last 10 years. The investment into Cardiff has sucked the life out of the surrounding area.

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bobmech1 says...
6:43pm Thu 13 Sep 12

If you go into Newport and down Charles street the first thing you come accoss on th ehigh street is the banks and a stretch of empty shops, then a few stores and as you leave the high street more empty shops.
Will this get worse with the 'New' developement. Will the remaining shops move off the High street as people move to the new precinct?
This would be another nail in Newport as the High Street would be bypassed by shoppers
Newport Really needs to fight back urgently, if it isnt to late.
Soon it will a sign 'CLOSED for Buisness' as every major chain will have left the city centre completely.
Cwmbran, Cardiff and Cribbs Causeway will have taken over completely.
This will be a shame as, when I was a child Newport was the destination from the Western Valleys to go to. a vibrant shopping center with a wide variety of shops.
How times have changed in 20 years.

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bobmech1 says...
6:47pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Why do people always blame Maggie Thatcher for things happening today. That was nearly 30 years ago.
Labour was in power for the Majority of the remaining period, thay have to share a large proprortion of the blame for the economic climate of today

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Magor says...
6:57pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Newport did not do that bad under the last tories,it went downhill when Labour got in and WAG was formed, which is just an extension of Cardiff Council.Maybe Newport should become Cardiff East.WAG may notice it then.

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chris227 says...
8:28pm Thu 13 Sep 12

there was a programme in monday night about wales, the trouble is all the public sector jobs have been moved into cardiff along with all the grant money.

Newport as i was explaining to a younger colleague at work used to have a good night-life and the shopping was ok now its like a run down valleys town i would say that having visited both its on the same standing as merthr. I cannot blame anyone for not visiting the place its a disgrace. unfortunately labour will always have a place in wales hearts due to the benefits and the public sector jobs. Not quite sure what the actual purpose of newport unlimited is , are there people actually full time employees or just a job on the side?

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CM1 says...
8:52pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Enlighten me; what is the WG investment in Cardiff that you are talking about?

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amandaajd1 says...
9:06pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Free parking is a must....I will NOT pay and would never pay to go to our town, when I can go up the road to free parking, with better shops....I would go to our town though, if I didn't have to pay....and I totally agree with, labour got us in this mess...with the economy..

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Dave on his Soapbox says...
9:14pm Thu 13 Sep 12

part of the problem with Newport has been the lack of a long term...joined up plan.
Back in the '70's the council followed the then thinking of that time and allowed the out of town retails parks to become established....which was the first nails in the coffin for the then town centre.
Latterly things like building the RiverFront which was supposed to replace the Dolman....but then didn't... which would have freed space for re-development.....b
uilding a new university campus which was going to grow....but now isn't going to expand....and would have been far better located elsewhere...allowing the river bank to be used for a large retail store.
The council has done little to re-develop the centre in a coherent way....allowing further destruction by allowing Asda down Pill and Sainburys at Crindau.

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bryanp66 says...
11:32pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Give it a chance-
2 hours free parking
Loads of new home being built and filled
Over the last 8 years the river bank has changed with all new type of developments
Newport will get better. Times are hard and investment has been high in the 'city'. Spitty will be like cribbs. Let's hope the 'city' centre gets the mixed outlets it needs.

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erudite says...
11:38pm Thu 13 Sep 12

I am heartily fed up with hearing about
'Labour' ruining our economy. Doesn't anybody listen to the news or watch what's happening. It's not labour. All labour ever does is have the task of clearing up the almighty mess made by the Conservatives. If the NHS isn't a good enough example, I don't know what is. Initially, I wanted to comment on the fact that when M&S migrates over to Spytty, we will no longer have a viable town centre. Then I looked at all the above comments and I decided to react in response to the hackles on my neck. Will somebody please wake up & smell the coffee!!!!

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Rugby Warrior Paulo says...
11:51pm Thu 13 Sep 12

For Newport to lose it's charity shop and chav image it'll either take major investment or council action. Personally I don't see either happening in my lifetime. Take it from someone who works in the "city" centre, I don't shop there! Why would I? With choices like Spytty, Cwmbran, Cardiff and Cribbs I see little point in pretending Newport even has shops left anymore.

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chris227 says...
12:16am Fri 14 Sep 12

cheap naff shell suits, scruffy staffies and the walking stick brigade Newport what a place

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maryjj says...
11:52am Fri 14 Sep 12

Living abroad and visiting last month I was amazed how Newport has decayed. The town needs to employ a foward thinking planner, architect and perhaps appoint a board with no financial or political gain (maybe some common sense) and work out how best to restore the town.
Also, give all of the people who don't go to work something else to do (perhaps some meaningful voluntary work) other than hang around the streets, drinking, arguing, intimidating people and perhaps give the streets a **** good scrub! It actually smells really bad.

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SizzlerTrainers says...
2:37pm Fri 14 Sep 12

The town is full of toothless Junkies and benefits specialists, proper cack hole.

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Cymru Am Beth says...
4:12pm Fri 14 Sep 12

dodo777 wrote:
Putting money in peoples pokets is an idea.Money is being taken up by utility bills and food.Wait till it gets cold and things will get much worse.Back to the days of maggie thatcher.AWFUL.
Oh and of course 13 years of Labour put the country back on its feet again.
Maggie Thatcher gets blamed for everything by the Socialists.

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lowandhardandinthecorner says...
6:50pm Fri 14 Sep 12

and so she should, she played a major part in ruining the social cohesion of this country. As regards the city centre , the council should have re-developed earlier because city traders are giving up hope as the flagship stores disappear - speed it up council before you're presiding over a corpse of a city.

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Dugstar says...
10:39am Sat 15 Sep 12

Always a great site in the morning coming down Stow Hill to be greeted by 3 or 4 homeless people sitting at the bottom of the hill, enjoying a good drink, swearing and getting in the way. Makes me want to get back on the bus and go back home instead of walking around the town. Newport really needs a face lift. Used to love shopping here when I was younger, used to be some great shops in the City but now all sadly gone.

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GrumpyOM says...
1:43pm Sat 15 Sep 12

Why should the city council worry about empty shops? Due to changes in the law April 2011 they can now charge owners of retail premises unoccupied for 3 months, the full going business rates! Shops open or shut it's win win win financially for the council.

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Welshman76 says...
5:05pm Sat 15 Sep 12

Adrian Williams wrote:
Free parking to match Cwmbran would be a simple and effective step
I think you will find there's 2 hrs free parking at the council run car parks and kings way with 10p for pay and display for 2 hrs so I doubt it's the issue of parking.

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chris227 says...
6:08am Sun 16 Sep 12

so they should charge people with empty shops full council tax i hope that sainsburys are paying a charge for leaving that eye sore they vacated a few years ago/

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nolongergullible says...
11:24am Sun 16 Sep 12

Last time I was in Commercial Street it seemed that the majority of ``footfalls`` were students. Without them the streets would be almost empty. The other thing that struck me was the smell of damp and decay. There have been regeneration schemes for many years, all of which have lead to the present state of affairs. Thank God for the benefits of the Ryder Cup!

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iscavista says...
6:38pm Sun 16 Sep 12

There's very little pride in the city at the moment - the new train station is a brave step forward, but the number of cigarette butts you see as soon as you step outside is appalling. It's the same with bus station - why aren't these station managers keeping these public transport hubs tidy and welcoming? Free from smokers and litterbugs? It's a shame as there are many who would be happy to litter pick, so that Newport can find its feet again! No one seems to be driving Newport forward.

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chris227 says...
8:31pm Sun 16 Sep 12

we need to scrap the WAG and return the hundreds of millions back to the welsh people Newport is an absolute joke town full of illiterate people in shell suits and staffies.

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Strider says...
10:52pm Sun 16 Sep 12

Between Iffy and the Chav's I can't decide who's done more to ruin Newport.. Probally Iffy!!

Thisisnotgwent has reported the Market has lost all 65 parking spaces as work has began on the Bus Station, and work on the Cambrian has been put on hold again..

When Marks & The Passport office leave, then Newport really will be a Ghost Town after Christmas..

Not even a tumbleweed will dare to cross the street as one of da ports Chav Scum will think the Tumbleweed "gizing em a tasty look like init blud"

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emmaw86 says...
1:48am Mon 17 Sep 12

I come from Bristol where we're lucky enough to have Cribbs and Cabot Circus, i now live several miles outside of Newport. Even before i moved here people were recommending i shop in Cwmbran (despite Newport being nearer!), theres a perception even in Bristol that Newport is just not a place you want to go to. I like Spytty, and the newer supermarkets but the city centre is just grubby and depressing. I'm currently without my car so using public transport i've had to go into Newport city centre quite a lot recently but if i had more money i'd definately be off to Cardiff or Cwmbran instead! It reminds me of Broadmead in Bristol, big brands migrated to Cabot Circus leaving lots of spaces empty, they filled these up with bargain shops, charity shops etc which then attract a certain type of shopper putting off the majority.

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Dalek Dave says...
9:44am Mon 17 Sep 12

There seems to be a lot of snobbery from the comments here

"Chav scum"
"benefit specialists"
"walking stick brigade"

Perhaps we should just round up the less desirable members of society and lock the away so the good people of Newport can pretend they dont exist?

Addiction, unemployment and poverty are everywhere - not just in Newport

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nolongergullible says...
10:55am Mon 17 Sep 12

Dalek Dave, Trouble is, unless you go further afield, you really believe thaat Newport is just like everywhere else. believe me, it is not. It is unique.

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Dalek Dave says...
12:15pm Mon 17 Sep 12

nolongergullible wrote:
Dalek Dave, Trouble is, unless you go further afield, you really believe thaat Newport is just like everywhere else. believe me, it is not. It is unique.
Unique....Really?

I think you will find that Newport is very much like other town and city centres - especially those in economically challenged areas.

Try visiting the North East..

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ncfcr says...
12:24pm Mon 17 Sep 12

I went to Newport the other day and bought 8 bog rolls from Poundland.

Proper shopping city. Loves it.

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nolongergullible says...
1:28pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Try visting towns in the south of England.

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Dalek Dave says...
1:43pm Mon 17 Sep 12

nolongergullible wrote:
Try visting towns in the south of England.
If you maintain Newport is unique then you should look further afield than the affluent south and south east

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russ angel says...
2:03pm Mon 17 Sep 12

The bus stations needs to be by the railway station,demolish the old one and put a wintergarden there with live events in the summer.John Frost Square needs a good facelift and perhaps a saturday market (like the old cattle market)The indoor market downstairs needs to be made less "disjointed" in its general look,and a revue of the tenants rent charges (less rent more empty spaces open) and free parking for more than two hours in our central car parks.As for the "lowlifes" that people mention hanging around in the city centre that is a police issue and unfortunately a sign of the times.

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Gooda says...
6:35pm Mon 17 Sep 12

I cant believe Newport folk have been so patient to be honest.Whats happened to a "city" with the geography and potential such as Newport is an utter disgrace. My wife and i often visited Newport when the kids were small. The town centre was buzzing on a sat afternoon. Next, principles, marks etc. Its nothing better now than a derelict. dirty, pound shop infested flea pit. I think Newport folk deserve better frankly. Whatever they try now will i fear. be too little too late.

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chris227 says...
9:10pm Mon 17 Sep 12

i have heard merthr are suing Newport for copyright stealing and copying the look of their town, shut down and derelict I do wonder when M & S go what will become of it just a load of pound shops with a load of the disabled crowd with their staffies.

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Rugby Warrior Paulo says...
9:53pm Mon 17 Sep 12

chris227 wrote:
i have heard merthr are suing Newport for copyright stealing and copying the look of their town, shut down and derelict I do wonder when M & S go what will become of it just a load of pound shops with a load of the disabled crowd with their staffies.
I never thought I'd see the day when Merthyr town centre was actually better shopping than Newport! Newport "The Gateway City" should be renamed "Charity 'n Chav Town". Give the £750K earmarked for the indoor market revamp to Merthyr. At least they won't waste it.

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HurricaneShane says...
10:15am Tue 18 Sep 12

The main problem with the city center is the fact that Newport Council are allowing far too many coffee shops and banks to dominate a relatively small high street. In places like Manchester, you have all the eateries and coffee shops in a small section and a financial district for the banks and building societies. The rest of the shops that are left are ones like Next, Burton, HMV, etc. Newport can be an amazing city center if the council cared more about making it unique than trying to complete with Cwmbran and Cardiff. I am hoping the new Friars Walk development will see a vast improvement in footfall but can people wait until 2015 for the changes to take effect?. I am a Newport lad originally and the town center, even back in the early 1990's, had a better warmth and spirit about it than it does today. Why do we need THREE wetherspoons in such a small proximity?.

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Dolieboy says...
7:54pm Tue 18 Sep 12

The only good thing in the town of Newport, (can't really call it a city with a shopping centre so small) is the train station to enable people to go shopping in a real city like Cardiff. Even Cwmbran has more to offer, oh and as mentioned numerously, free parking.

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chris227 says...
8:55pm Tue 18 Sep 12

but where can you see the range of shell suits that you can see in newport, white black blue and red!!

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dodo777 says...
10:03pm Tue 18 Sep 12

MONEY MAKES THE WORLD GO AROUND THE WORLD GO AROUND (THE SONG) SOME ONE NEEDS TO SING THIS TO THE TORIES BECAUSE THEY REALLY HAVENT A CLUE.
Go after tax avoidance britain would soon pick up but no pick on the poorest the weakest thats the tory way.

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rightsideup says...
10:16pm Tue 18 Sep 12

Was'nt it the labour party that left us pennyless and sold our gold for next to nothing?.

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lowandhardandinthecorner says...
3:42pm Wed 19 Sep 12

No it was the wretched bankers

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Bobevans says...
4:00pm Wed 19 Sep 12

Gooda wrote:
I cant believe Newport folk have been so patient to be honest.Whats happened to a "city" with the geography and potential such as Newport is an utter disgrace. My wife and i often visited Newport when the kids were small. The town centre was buzzing on a sat afternoon. Next, principles, marks etc. Its nothing better now than a derelict. dirty, pound shop infested flea pit. I think Newport folk deserve better frankly. Whatever they try now will i fear. be too little too late.
Don't worry. A Newport Councilor or Newport Unlimited spokesman will pop their head upo to say how the redevelwepment is moving forward. Now don't laugh.

Why are we paying Newport Unlimited a couple of Muillion pound a year to wreck Newport?

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Strider says...
6:39pm Wed 19 Sep 12

MOthercare is leaving Newport Friday, nearest store Cwmbran... Strange as some faceless internet Rambo's on here are always saying what a Brilliant place Newport is!

All I see is pubs Poundshops and Charity Shops iN Newport.. Also can Newport's Scumbags not read as they flout the no drinking, Smoking and Bike Riding zones

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Dalek Dave says...
10:01pm Wed 19 Sep 12

YES..Newport cant be called a shopping destination at present

YES...it has too many pubs, charity and pound shops

but also YES...it has a multi million shopping centre planned...and YES there are plenty of decent people in Newport who would gladly flock back to the city centre if the plans go ahead

Please lets have some optimism!

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