Friar's Walk plan shelved (From South Wales Argus)

Friar's Walk plan shelved

12:47pm Wednesday 10th June 2009 in News Photograph of the Author Exclusive By Jane Helmich

DECISION: Newport council leader Matthew Evans in Newport’s John Frost Square, the site of the proposed Friar's Walk scheme

A MAJOR shopping scheme which would have helped transform Newport city centre is being ditched, as JANE HELMICH exclusively reveals.

FRIAR'S Walk - the £200 million shopping vision expected to transform Newport city centre - is not going to become a reality.

City bosses have taken the tough decision to call it a day for the scheme which was dogged by continual delays.

They said the developers had revealed they were not in a position to deliver the centre as originally proposed and the council was not prepared to accept a scaled-down version of such an important venture.

It will a devastating blow to many in the city who believed the new shopping venue was vital for the centre's regeneration.

Many shops had already agreed to take up units in the centre including anchor stores Debenham's and Marks and Spencer, along with many other well-known names. A Vue Cinema was also lined up along with restaurants.

But now the council will be looking for a development partner for a new retail scheme and intends to take greater control of the site.

And it will not mean going back to square one as a lot of the groundwork for another project is already in place including the road infrastructure, planning permissions, and a new multi-storey car park almost completed.

Modus (Corovest) Newport Ltd, the company which won the contract in 2005 is understood to have lost investors backing the scheme as a result of the banking crisis.

But, despite repeatedly stating its commitment to Friars Walk, it failed to find new funding.

The council plans to go out to tender for a new city centre development and will be re-marketing the site.

Approval has already been given to complete the on-going compulsory purchase scheme around John Frost Square.

"As far as the council is concerned we have reached the stage where a definite decision needs to be taken on the future of Friars Walk," said council leader Matthew Evans.

"We have done all we can as a council to get this scheme to the stage where the developers had to come up with funding and go on site."

Cllr Evans said it had failed to do this and had told the council that, because of the economic downturn, the council was currently not in a position to deliver the intended scheme.

"Such is the importance of this project for Newport we are not prepared to accept a scaled-down version and will therefore open up the scheme to other interested parties."

He added that businesses and investors knew the huge potential the city had and there was no lack of interest in the Friars Walk which was 75 per cent pre-let.

"The banking crisis has had a huge impact on the commercial property market and unfortunately Modus and Friars Walk have been caught up in the middle of this."

Cllr Evans said they were taking decisive action at a difficult time.

"I know there will be huge disappointment, but we will be failing the people and businesses of Newport if we just allowed the current situation to drift on indefinitely."

Cllr Ed Townsend, cabinet member for economic development and employment, hoped the decision would bring an end to the "cloud of uncertainty and rumour" and enable them to bring a fresh impetus to the city's redevelopment plans.

Comments(51)

D.G. says...
12:58pm Wed 10 Jun 09

Deeply disappointing, but at least we can move on now.

Report this post »

DEBS1 says...
1:14pm Wed 10 Jun 09

only what we already new just typical wreak newport then leave it as ghost town this council is a flipping joke

Report this post »

DEBS1 says...
1:16pm Wed 10 Jun 09

MAYBE HE SHOULD TRY SOME MORE "FEEL GOOD BANNERS", THATS HOW IDIOTIC NEWPORT HAS BECOME UNDER THIS BLOODY AWFUL COALITION

Report this post »

Bobevans says...
1:18pm Wed 10 Jun 09

No suprise at all. A project that was off track and out of control from day 1. Why action was not taken 18 months ago remain a mystery.

When a major backer pulled out we had the usual spin of it will not affect the Project. They had to be out of their tiny minds to think that.

Now the Project needs to be totally re-thought. It's no good just going out to tender with the current Project

Report this post »

NP_Welsh_Dragon says...
1:29pm Wed 10 Jun 09

So dissapointed by this news...although it was inevitable to happen. I guess there is very little chance of keeping debenhams interested in coming to the city. Newport has so much potential but it seem to be unrecognised.

Before bob comes and writes his highly critical comments onto this article it has to be stated that it is NOT Newport City Council and Newport Unlimited's fault for all of this....it's the investors/ recession!!

Report this post »

ken ash says...
2:48pm Wed 10 Jun 09

Well, NP_Welsh_Dragon, Debs and the others. Just look at this.
Cabot's Circus, Bristol, Southgate, Bath, St David's 2, Cardiff, Gloucester Quays Shopping Mall - all built and finished during a recession.
So why? I'm non-political but Newport City Council has had SEVEN years to get something done since the Ryder Cup was announced. That is across all parties. Now the flagship has been burnt down and the fault and blame lies with those who talk a brilliant talk but did not follow it up.
As for Newport Unlimited, they, like MPs and their expenses, ought to be taken to caught for fraud. The quango has failed miserably to do anything for this town. They have been asked to report to the council more times than I have had hot dinners yet they still haven't. So what about our council tax to Newport Unlimted for consultancy fees, etc? Are they going to pay it back for ten years of nothing? Of course not.
The credit crunch has hit us all but the unswerving belief that Frair's Walk or anything else will be built - City Spires, a mini-town on the Llanwern steelworks site - all gone.
It is about time that Newport realised that it has idiots as leaders and is only a town which is used for cheap housing and commuting back and forth to Cardiff and Bristol.
Even Terry Matthews is marketing the Ryder Cup as coming from 'The Celtic Manor, Cardiff' not Newport.
So add Friar's Walk to the town centre development around Wildings and the Usk Barrage as schemes which were all big and bold but whose proposals were built on sand.
I think I'll retrain as an architect or a commercial lawyer so that, when the next 'big thing' comes around in Newport, I'll get a fat consultancy fee knowing that I don't have to do any work because it is going to fall flat on its' face anyway.
Time for Newport to give up the ghost now. At least Terry Matthews will be saved from embarrassment next year.

Report this post »

gingertom says...
3:15pm Wed 10 Jun 09

Fair comment Ken ash, some people couldn't organise a booze up in a brewery. Let's see what the council next move is with the development.

Report this post »

flud says...
3:19pm Wed 10 Jun 09

well Newport City Council seem to have finally done something right and dropped the dead donkey, it's a shame it wasn't done when the writing started appearing on the wall with demise of City Spires questions should have been asked then whether they had the financial where with all to complete the contract, but I fear that due diligence was not done and they just kept there fingers crossed shame!

Report this post »

DEBS1 says...
3:36pm Wed 10 Jun 09

ken ash wrote:
Well, NP_Welsh_Dragon, Debs and the others. Just look at this. Cabot's Circus, Bristol, Southgate, Bath, St David's 2, Cardiff, Gloucester Quays Shopping Mall - all built and finished during a recession. So why? I'm non-political but Newport City Council has had SEVEN years to get something done since the Ryder Cup was announced. That is across all parties. Now the flagship has been burnt down and the fault and blame lies with those who talk a brilliant talk but did not follow it up. As for Newport Unlimited, they, like MPs and their expenses, ought to be taken to caught for fraud. The quango has failed miserably to do anything for this town. They have been asked to report to the council more times than I have had hot dinners yet they still haven't. So what about our council tax to Newport Unlimted for consultancy fees, etc? Are they going to pay it back for ten years of nothing? Of course not. The credit crunch has hit us all but the unswerving belief that Frair's Walk or anything else will be built - City Spires, a mini-town on the Llanwern steelworks site - all gone. It is about time that Newport realised that it has idiots as leaders and is only a town which is used for cheap housing and commuting back and forth to Cardiff and Bristol. Even Terry Matthews is marketing the Ryder Cup as coming from 'The Celtic Manor, Cardiff' not Newport. So add Friar's Walk to the town centre development around Wildings and the Usk Barrage as schemes which were all big and bold but whose proposals were built on sand. I think I'll retrain as an architect or a commercial lawyer so that, when the next 'big thing' comes around in Newport, I'll get a fat consultancy fee knowing that I don't have to do any work because it is going to fall flat on its' face anyway. Time for Newport to give up the ghost now. At least Terry Matthews will be saved from embarrassment next year.

I heard Terry Matthews has even sent people to Cardiff for hotel accomodation during the Ryder Cup as he is fully booked whats wrong with recommending Newport
I'll tell you its a disgrace an embarresment a outright bloody show-up as you said Ken Ash all the other projects you have listed were completed during a reccession but let me guess not as bad as this one its just as I've said before give us some tumble weed as this
sh**ty city has now been ruined beyond repair THANKS NEWPORT CITY COUNCIL AND THANKS NEWPORT UNLIMITED

[quote][p][bold]ken ash[/bold] wrote: Well, NP_Welsh_Dragon, Debs and the others. Just look at this. Cabot's Circus, Bristol, Southgate, Bath, St David's 2, Cardiff, Gloucester Quays Shopping Mall - all built and finished during a recession. So why? I'm non-political but Newport City Council has had SEVEN years to get something done since the Ryder Cup was announced. That is across all parties. Now the flagship has been burnt down and the fault and blame lies with those who talk a brilliant talk but did not follow it up. As for Newport Unlimited, they, like MPs and their expenses, ought to be taken to caught for fraud. The quango has failed miserably to do anything for this town. They have been asked to report to the council more times than I have had hot dinners yet they still haven't. So what about our council tax to Newport Unlimted for consultancy fees, etc? Are they going to pay it back for ten years of nothing? Of course not. The credit crunch has hit us all but the unswerving belief that Frair's Walk or anything else will be built - City Spires, a mini-town on the Llanwern steelworks site - all gone. It is about time that Newport realised that it has idiots as leaders and is only a town which is used for cheap housing and commuting back and forth to Cardiff and Bristol. Even Terry Matthews is marketing the Ryder Cup as coming from 'The Celtic Manor, Cardiff' not Newport. So add Friar's Walk to the town centre development around Wildings and the Usk Barrage as schemes which were all big and bold but whose proposals were built on sand. I think I'll retrain as an architect or a commercial lawyer so that, when the next 'big thing' comes around in Newport, I'll get a fat consultancy fee knowing that I don't have to do any work because it is going to fall flat on its' face anyway. Time for Newport to give up the ghost now. At least Terry Matthews will be saved from embarrassment next year.[/p][/quote]I heard Terry Matthews has even sent people to Cardiff for hotel accomodation during the Ryder Cup as he is fully booked whats wrong with recommending Newport I'll tell you its a disgrace an embarresment a outright bloody show-up as you said Ken Ash all the other projects you have listed were completed during a reccession but let me guess not as bad as this one its just as I've said before give us some tumble weed as this sh**ty city has now been ruined beyond repair THANKS NEWPORT CITY COUNCIL AND THANKS NEWPORT UNLIMITED DEBS1

Report this post »

newportboy1980 says...
3:56pm Wed 10 Jun 09

i'm not surprised by this and all the other things being cancelled, all I want redeveloped is Rodney parade!

Report this post »

The Abrogator says...
4:05pm Wed 10 Jun 09

A terrrible shame but not unexpected.

Newport and the people who live and work there deserve better.

Report this post »

Halfway Harry says...
4:08pm Wed 10 Jun 09

Newport should now be renamed, Newport-On-The-Mud.

Report this post »

Owain Vaughan says...
4:11pm Wed 10 Jun 09

"Even Terry Matthews is marketing the Ryder Cup as coming from 'The Celtic Manor, Cardiff' not Newport."

No he isn't. Look at http://www.celtic-ma
nor.com/The-Ryder-Cu
p-2010.aspx

Report this post »

jono port says...
4:15pm Wed 10 Jun 09

"deeply disapointing "is an massive understatement.

heads should roll for this mess ,both city spires and now friars walk have bitten the dust .

newport unlimited should be shut down ,the welsh assembly should be asking and investigating these seemly untouchable people wasteing our tax payers money .

i also feel that the council have a SEVERE lack of urgancy about any of this mess .inclding the potential of the ryder cup .

HOW is any body in newport supposed to be proud of this city .

WHAT a JOKE ,it almost unbeliveable!!!!!!!!
!!!

Report this post »

Dave on his Soapbox says...
4:22pm Wed 10 Jun 09

...what's going to happen next?
are we tax payers going to chip in with the next proposal?
We've already paid for a footbridge to no where....and contributed to thenew 'city' centre campus.
Wasn't the kingsway shopping centre originally build by the council?

Report this post »

jono port says...
4:22pm Wed 10 Jun 09

and also the EDITOR of the ARGUS should resign from the board of newport unlimited NOW.

HE should be looking to distance self as far as possible from this mess.and get the paper to start questioning the constant spin that is constantly coming out of newport unlimited

Report this post »

M Henry Morgan says...
5:03pm Wed 10 Jun 09

I'm Newport born and bred and have lived in the surrounding area all my life. I have to say though that the City Centre is a thoroughly depressing place in my eyes. I liken it to a East European City pre EU financial investment! In fact since becoming a City it seems to have gone backwards but no doubt some individuals did very well financially from the change of its status. Developers are by definition realitically only interested in financial payback. The City Council however should be looking after the interests of its residents, but so often these days residents those are seen by councils as no more than hinderances to a peaceful life. No doubt in these times of political and expenses turmoil some Councillors will feel the effects at the ballot box. But what of the Council 'professionals'? Those whose salary is paid for by Council Tax payers? Well of course the public have choices in most cases. If they don't like Tesco they go to Asda. If they don't like Comet they go to Currys. If they don't like their council however there's no real choice but move to another part of the country!!!

Report this post »

The Abrogator says...
5:29pm Wed 10 Jun 09

jono port wrote:
and also the EDITOR of the ARGUS should resign from the board of newport unlimited NOW. HE should be looking to distance self as far as possible from this mess.and get the paper to start questioning the constant spin that is constantly coming out of newport unlimited

The editor will be too busy with chummy gang of mates to worry about it. I know. I used to work there. If your face doesn't fit, as the old saying goes...

Report this post »

The Rabbit says...
6:25pm Wed 10 Jun 09

Well well so the council have finally heard what we all have been saying for the last few months and finally realised that this development is not going to happen until well after the Golf has been and gone.

If we all new this why didn’t our councillors?? Perhaps I should be a councillor. I couldn’t do any worse than them.

How does one become a councillor I wonder?

Mmm... Councilor Rabbit has a certain ring about it.

Report this post »

The Rabbit says...
6:28pm Wed 10 Jun 09

oops should be knew. Sorry

Report this post »

Bobevans says...
6:28pm Wed 10 Jun 09

I find a remarkable similarity to Gordon Brown with Newport Unlimited

No accountability, Lots or hot air and lots of spin.

Report this post »

billieboy says...
6:34pm Wed 10 Jun 09

Yes, there is a recession but this is just a convenient excuse - look at Cardiff or even Cwmbran. Make the council answerable for the mess which they have created. E mail either your local councillor or Andy Evans, ‘Head of Planning, Regeneration and Strategic Housing’. Andy.evans@newport.g
ov.uk I think that it is about time councilors began to listen to the people of Newport and they can only do this if they know how we feel.

Report this post »

kalwales@hotmail.com says...
6:53pm Wed 10 Jun 09

Just typical of "newport city council" what a pile of b*****ks, they are an absolute shambles, oh but ive no doubt the councillors are happy to line their pockets and like i said last year the Ryder Cup is going to be a Disaster & Newpoprt City Council can thank tehmselves for that, no point in blaiming a recession because the "newport City Council" have wasted money on Rubbish Statues & Monuments

I for one constantly stick up for newport but now ive had an absolute gutsful,

Newport is now a "Supreme Chav Town with Smackheads & Wino Dolebumming Roid Heads" the best part about newport is THE EXIT !

I ASK YOU ALL TO EMAIL THIS CLOWN

Andy.evans@newport.g

ov.uk & SHOW HIM YOUR TRUE FEELINGS !

Report this post »

OutintheWetlands says...
6:59pm Wed 10 Jun 09

Newport will ALWAYS be a concrete abomination with no ambition. Shop in Cwmbran it's better.

Report this post »

Stuck says...
7:59pm Wed 10 Jun 09

There simply isnt the money in Newport. Newport is a spit and sawdust "town" in south wales not New York or Milan. Lets get real and stop trying to polish a T**d. BTW Im avoiding the Ryder Cup by going shopping abroad maybe New York or Milan.

Report this post »

Brighton_1975 says...
9:26pm Wed 10 Jun 09

Stuck wrote:
There simply isnt the money in Newport. Newport is a spit and sawdust "town" in south wales not New York or Milan. Lets get real and stop trying to polish a T**d. BTW Im avoiding the Ryder Cup by going shopping abroad maybe New York or Milan.

You have a point there. It's unfortunate that Newport is bang in the middle of two major shopping cities (Bristol and Cardiff). Of course the major retailers would go there before Newport. It has nothing to do with Newport itself, just basic economics.

This is why they should knock down the truly horrific John Frost Sq and bus station and build a huge public space for people to enjoy. It's never going to become a large shopping centre so why not make it something unique. Cardiff is slowly turning into any other British city centre and is losing it's identity so this would be an ideal opportunity for Newport to get one up on their neighbours.

Report this post »

papa says...
9:37pm Wed 10 Jun 09

Well Newport has been a shambles for years but at least now we got a Mayor that matches it and he will do sod all about it except make it worse.
I have heard that NDW 1 is being used as a late night taxi, no need to phone a friend, they are in it as well!!

Report this post »

AndrewBarley says...
9:50pm Wed 10 Jun 09

Anoter shambles typically orcehstrated by this joke of city council that are currently in office. I find it strange that after a wash out at the celtic manor on the weekend and lots of mumblings in the golf circle that the Ryder cup is in october and the weather experienced these past few days is in JUNE!!!!
This council should admit defeat and hand the keys back to the labour councillors to sort he mess out caused by a grou ofcouncillors who have not got a clue how to run a council.
from children, adults, taxi drivers, pensioners and even the dead this council is only interesed in making money for its own back pocket. As for the comment about the tax payed ayors car NDW 1 I saw that vehicle at the celtic manor last week, he dropped chris freegard off at the club house. Meeting? during a tournament? or a free ticket for all the back scratching thats gone on with Sir Terry.

Report this post »

billieboy says...
9:50pm Wed 10 Jun 09

This is on the agenda for the Council meeting on Tuesday the 16th of June http://www.newport.g
ov.uk/stellent/group
s/public/documents/a
genda/cont386064%7E1
.pdf

Wouldn’t it be great if the council members had some company????

Report this post »

pearshaped says...
9:55pm Wed 10 Jun 09

Get me out of this city but please let me see inept people in charge sacked first (with no pay-off). My daughter starts a secondary school in September (St Julians), where plaster is falling off the walls - unacceptable.

While I'm here, someone please crack down on chav scum like the beer-stinking pair I sat next to in Beechwood surgery yesterday at 9:15 a.m., one of them laughing that they were going to get 300 quid (a month?) for claiming they were depressed, and that he was suing the council after hurting his ankle by stepping in a pot-hole (again, laughing that he was **** out of his brain at the time). Where have all the decent people of Newport gone?

Report this post »

Jenks says...
10:22pm Wed 10 Jun 09

Can CITY STATUS be taken away from Newport? Why it was awarded i'll never know

Report this post »

papa says...
10:42pm Wed 10 Jun 09

AndrewBarley wrote:
Anoter shambles typically orcehstrated by this joke of city council that are currently in office. I find it strange that after a wash out at the celtic manor on the weekend and lots of mumblings in the golf circle that the Ryder cup is in october and the weather experienced these past few days is in JUNE!!!! This council should admit defeat and hand the keys back to the labour councillors to sort he mess out caused by a grou ofcouncillors who have not got a clue how to run a council. from children, adults, taxi drivers, pensioners and even the dead this council is only interesed in making money for its own back pocket. As for the comment about the tax payed ayors car NDW 1 I saw that vehicle at the celtic manor last week, he dropped chris freegard off at the club house. Meeting? during a tournament? or a free ticket for all the back scratching thats gone on with Sir Terry.

My information is that it was a bit closer to town, like a night club!!
Only rumour though.

Report this post »

billieboy says...
10:49pm Wed 10 Jun 09

I think the council must be running scared the agenda in which they are discussing Newport City Centre has just been removed from the website -NEXT TUESDAY 10 OCLOCK!

Report this post »

Cantankerous says...
12:27am Thu 11 Jun 09

A simple message to those who do not understand:

This failure is not the fault of Newport City Council and our councillors nor is it the fault of Newport Unlimited.

The problem is simple - the developer's security, its property value over 40+ projects, dropped by 26% - not an attractive deal to their lenders.

We are in a recession - understand it!

Report this post »

D.G. says...
3:03am Thu 11 Jun 09

Interesting how, when the public isn't buying the BS the polititians are selling, someone invariably comes ut of the woodwork to say that the stupid little people "don't understand."

Here's a simple message for *you* - the problems around this development were being aired on this forum at least a year before the credit crunch/recession took hold.

I remember this vividly; because I was one of the unfortunate dupes who believed the council, Newport Unlimited and this sorry-ar$ed excuse of a newspaper when they said everything was going to be fine.

There are words for how I feel about that, but none I care to repeat in polite company.

Report this post »

shera 1 says...
3:18am Thu 11 Jun 09

Cantankerous wrote:
A simple message to those who do not understand: This failure is not the fault of Newport City Council and our councillors nor is it the fault of Newport Unlimited. The problem is simple - the developer's security, its property value over 40+ projects, dropped by 26% - not an attractive deal to their lenders. We are in a recession - understand it!

the truth for those
with intelligence:

this failure and the buck stops at newport
city council and newport unlimited.the
council had too many meetings,just talking
and time wasting.more time wasting like 9 months
to move the murial pictures from john frost square etc.newport unlimited
acted like mps claiming expenses etc. they had 7 years
to build these 2 flagship shoping centres in newport.as
for the developers did the council not
get them to give guarantees,sign contract etc. that city spires and friars walk would be completed on time and within budget before the ryder cup.
dont blame the recession in 2009.
they had plenty of time to complete the projects by now.
notice the head of newport council is leaving this summer.
heads should roll on this one.

Report this post »

Bobevans says...
6:50am Thu 11 Jun 09

The problem is they don't want to listen. It's the biggest problem we have with politicians. They don't listen, they don't want to listen they just want to do there own thing and ignore the electorate.
Look at the town centre mess. They have been told for at least a year that it was out of control and wa not going to happen but they totally ignored it and choose to live in their own little dream world and continuted to say it was on schedule

They have been told Newport Unlimited were a key causeof the mess and that they should dismiss them. Again the electorate are ignored.

Now the program has been totaaly binned exactly what are we paying Newport Unlimited to do?

Can we have an ANSWER Newport Council?

No I thought not, total silence

We have total unaccountability at Westminster & total unaccountability at a local level.

Is it any wonder people dont vote and that they have total disgust with politicians

Our local councillors are ignoring the electorate in the same way that Brown is.

Why not get rid of the whole disgracefull bunch of them. We could easilly do without them. Lets us vote onschemes & budgets, cut out the middle men that just ignore us anyway,

Report this post »

Bobevans says...
6:59am Thu 11 Jun 09

An interesting pointnow. I continuall questioned the claim they had cContractual sign up for 70% of the retail units.

So perhaps the council will tell us what Penalty payments the Taxpayers will be picking up now that the contact has been called in?

No retailer would give a firm contractual comitmmnt without due dilegence and they would have covered themselves

We will not get an answer from Newport Council on this though. It might be embarrissing for them

Report this post »

mafu09 says...
7:41am Thu 11 Jun 09

Never mind at least we have newport county to look forward to!!!

Report this post »

Dugstar says...
8:58am Thu 11 Jun 09

What a shame, looks like I'll have to continue to catch the train down to Cardiff then if I want to do some shopping. Have to say my wife and I stopped off in Newport a few weeks ago and she said to me that she wouldn't feel safe walking around the shopping area even during the day with all the Chav's with their dogs and gangs of youths hanging about. This comes from someone who managed a shop in the Kingsway for a few years before she had enough of all the abuse etc from some of the unsavoury customers. Newport does need a major facelift however sadly I don't think it will ever happen.

Report this post »

doctor bob says...
9:42am Thu 11 Jun 09

Bobevans wrote:
An interesting pointnow. I continuall questioned the claim they had cContractual sign up for 70% of the retail units. So perhaps the council will tell us what Penalty payments the Taxpayers will be picking up now that the contact has been called in? No retailer would give a firm contractual comitmmnt without due dilegence and they would have covered themselves We will not get an answer from Newport Council on this though. It might be embarrissing for them

Bob. This was a privately funded development, and the finances and contracts with shops was not anything to do with the council. Any contracts would have been between Modus and the retailers. I guess it would have been along the lines of 'if you build it we agree to come. Friars Walk was ready to go but Modus and the banks went bust, that's just a bad bit of luck. I heard Cardiff's scheme was wobbling too last year but you'd have to wonder whether the powers that be would have allowed that to happen.

Report this post »

D.G. says...
12:06pm Thu 11 Jun 09

Privately funded - isn't Rosemary Butler quoted on these pages as saying the WAG has a major stake in this development?

Report this post »

doctor bob says...
12:53pm Thu 11 Jun 09

D.G. wrote:
Privately funded - isn't Rosemary Butler quoted on these pages as saying the WAG has a major stake in this development?

.. only in terms of getting the site together and ready to be passed on to Modus to build.

Report this post »

D.G. says...
2:06pm Thu 11 Jun 09

To clarify - they paid for the preparation work?

Report this post »

davewales says...
5:17pm Thu 11 Jun 09

ken ash wrote:
Well, NP_Welsh_Dragon, Debs and the others. Just look at this. Cabot's Circus, Bristol, Southgate, Bath, St David's 2, Cardiff, Gloucester Quays Shopping Mall - all built and finished during a recession. So why? I'm non-political but Newport City Council has had SEVEN years to get something done since the Ryder Cup was announced. That is across all parties. Now the flagship has been burnt down and the fault and blame lies with those who talk a brilliant talk but did not follow it up. As for Newport Unlimited, they, like MPs and their expenses, ought to be taken to caught for fraud. The quango has failed miserably to do anything for this town. They have been asked to report to the council more times than I have had hot dinners yet they still haven't. So what about our council tax to Newport Unlimted for consultancy fees, etc? Are they going to pay it back for ten years of nothing? Of course not. The credit crunch has hit us all but the unswerving belief that Frair's Walk or anything else will be built - City Spires, a mini-town on the Llanwern steelworks site - all gone. It is about time that Newport realised that it has idiots as leaders and is only a town which is used for cheap housing and commuting back and forth to Cardiff and Bristol. Even Terry Matthews is marketing the Ryder Cup as coming from 'The Celtic Manor, Cardiff' not Newport. So add Friar's Walk to the town centre development around Wildings and the Usk Barrage as schemes which were all big and bold but whose proposals were built on sand. I think I'll retrain as an architect or a commercial lawyer so that, when the next 'big thing' comes around in Newport, I'll get a fat consultancy fee knowing that I don't have to do any work because it is going to fall flat on its' face anyway. Time for Newport to give up the ghost now. At least Terry Matthews will be saved from embarrassment next year.

well said ken.

i have emailed
andy.evans@newport.g
ov
the recession is a good excuse but it doesnt wash everyone knows this is down too poor planning and leadership.the buck must stop with the council.the council picked the planners,advisors,de
velopers,consultants etc with our money and have failed us miserably.

i agree the editor of the argus should step down from newport unlimited and then his paper might write the truth about these shysters.

[quote][p][bold]ken ash[/bold] wrote: Well, NP_Welsh_Dragon, Debs and the others. Just look at this. Cabot's Circus, Bristol, Southgate, Bath, St David's 2, Cardiff, Gloucester Quays Shopping Mall - all built and finished during a recession. So why? I'm non-political but Newport City Council has had SEVEN years to get something done since the Ryder Cup was announced. That is across all parties. Now the flagship has been burnt down and the fault and blame lies with those who talk a brilliant talk but did not follow it up. As for Newport Unlimited, they, like MPs and their expenses, ought to be taken to caught for fraud. The quango has failed miserably to do anything for this town. They have been asked to report to the council more times than I have had hot dinners yet they still haven't. So what about our council tax to Newport Unlimted for consultancy fees, etc? Are they going to pay it back for ten years of nothing? Of course not. The credit crunch has hit us all but the unswerving belief that Frair's Walk or anything else will be built - City Spires, a mini-town on the Llanwern steelworks site - all gone. It is about time that Newport realised that it has idiots as leaders and is only a town which is used for cheap housing and commuting back and forth to Cardiff and Bristol. Even Terry Matthews is marketing the Ryder Cup as coming from 'The Celtic Manor, Cardiff' not Newport. So add Friar's Walk to the town centre development around Wildings and the Usk Barrage as schemes which were all big and bold but whose proposals were built on sand. I think I'll retrain as an architect or a commercial lawyer so that, when the next 'big thing' comes around in Newport, I'll get a fat consultancy fee knowing that I don't have to do any work because it is going to fall flat on its' face anyway. Time for Newport to give up the ghost now. At least Terry Matthews will be saved from embarrassment next year.[/p][/quote]well said ken. i have emailed andy.evans@newport.g ov the recession is a good excuse but it doesnt wash everyone knows this is down too poor planning and leadership.the buck must stop with the council.the council picked the planners,advisors,de velopers,consultants etc with our money and have failed us miserably. i agree the editor of the argus should step down from newport unlimited and then his paper might write the truth about these shysters. davewales

Report this post »

Bobevans says...
6:39pm Thu 11 Jun 09

The farce started with the minor alterations to the roads. The one man and his dog event dragged on for years with nothing happening

The only thing the rushed in was the pointless footbridge. The main purpose of which was to provide a slightly shorter root from the student digs to the university. It also allows them quicker acces to the pubs & clubs.

£3 Million well spent I dont think

What an earther the idiots in Newport Unlimited to think this was sensible god only knows.

It would be a bit like building a house on a tight budget so you start with the Conservatory.

Madness total and complete madness.

Report this post »

mikewelsh says...
10:20pm Thu 11 Jun 09

papa wrote:
Well Newport has been a shambles for years but at least now we got a Mayor that matches it and he will do sod all about it except make it worse. I have heard that NDW 1 is being used as a late night taxi, no need to phone a friend, they are in it as well!!

dont believe all hearsay papa, i was sat behind the Mayor on the bus only the other day, before you ask, no he didn't have his chains on.

Report this post »

Mr. Gaunt says...
9:07am Sat 13 Jun 09

Lets hope we get the clock back at least.

Report this post »

billieboy says...
6:18pm Sat 13 Jun 09

Can I mention again that there is a council meeting to disucss Newport City Centre at 10p.m. on Tuesday 16th in the council chambers - this is open to the public

Report this post »

DEBS1 says...
8:44pm Sat 13 Jun 09

billieboy wrote:
Can I mention again that there is a council meeting to disucss Newport City Centre at 10p.m. on Tuesday 16th in the council chambers - this is open to the public

thanks for this billieboy lets see if we can all make it to the council it should be like watching a bunch of standup comedians

Report this post »

Brighton_1975 says...
11:36am Sun 14 Jun 09

DEBS1 wrote:

billieboy wrote:
Can I mention again that there is a council meeting to disucss Newport City Centre at 10p.m. on Tuesday 16th in the council chambers - this is open to the public
thanks for this billieboy lets see if we can all make it to the council it should be like watching a bunch of standup comedians

More like a live-action 'Muppet Show'!

Report this post »

Friar's Walk plan shelved (From South Wales Argus)

News RSS Feed

Friar's Walk plan shelved

click2find

Jobs

Dating

Homes

Cars

About cookies