Newport should be district of Cardiff - billionaire Sir Terry Matthews

9:14am Tuesday 19th March 2013 in Gwent news

CONTROVERSIAL: Newport should be a district of Cardiff, says billionaire Sir Terry Matthews CONTROVERSIAL: Newport should be a district of Cardiff, says billionaire Sir Terry Matthews

NEWPORT-BORN billionaire Sir Terry Matthews has said Newport should become a district of Cardiff.

The Gwent businessman said Newport would do "better economically" as a region of the capital.

In an interview with BBC Wales he said: "If Newport was a region of Cardiff it would do better economically. Many people won't like these words but I believe this started a long time ago - size matters."

The tycoon added: "If I was king, I would go [from] Swansea to Newport and I'd circle it and include the valleys. I'd say that's Cardiff."

The comments came in an interview Sir Terry gave to BBC Wales' Week In Week Out programme which looked at proposals for a £1.5bn metro transport system which could improve links between Cardiff, Newport and the Valleys.

Its promoters say the system would help establish a south east Wales city region, driven by Cardiff but including Newport, which was recently proposed by an expert panel reporting to the assembly.

Gwent AM Mohammad Asghar slammed Sir Terry's comments, saying: “I have great respect for Sir Terry Matthews and for his skills as a businessman but I totally reject his call for Newport to become a region of Cardiff.”

“Newport is a city in its own right. I recognise it has its economic problems with one quarter of shops in the city centre lying empty but that is the result of years of failure by Labour in Wales to create the conditions for businesses to grow and to thrive.”

“The economic development of Cardiff has been a great success and I want Newport to emulate Cardiff and not to be submerged by Cardiff.”

Former mayor of Newport Miqdad Al-Nuaimi‏ said on Twitter: "Have much admiration for Sir Terry's achievements, but his comments are ill-timed and bode unwell for Newport prosperity. I offer Sir Terry the opportunity to drive him round in Cardiff to show how shabby that's in many places. No thanks!"

Do you think Newport would do better as a district of Cardiff? Vote and leave your comment below:

Comments(96)

Owain Vaughan says...
9:19am Tue 19 Mar 13

Oh dear, here we go again...

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Owain Vaughan says...
9:25am Tue 19 Mar 13

If we are talking "city regions" rather than just absorbing one place into another, a Severnside region could easily incorporate Glamorgan, Monmouthshire, Gloucestershire and Somerset, with a new International airport at Newport ;)

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Risca1 says...
9:25am Tue 19 Mar 13

Sir Terry is 100% correct. It cannot get any worse.

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Poolerkev says...
9:29am Tue 19 Mar 13

Build a wall round it and fill it with concrete. The place is a dive. Mind you Cardiff Gwent Dragons sounds like a good plan!

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Davi says...
9:30am Tue 19 Mar 13

I wouldn't matter if it was a district of Cardiff because Newport has lost the appeal of people wanting to go there.The area going in and coming out of there is awful.

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Jonos44 says...
9:31am Tue 19 Mar 13

I must admit I am not the greatest fan of "Newport's prodigal son" as I have always felt that for all of his so called support for the area his agenda has always been the promotion of himself and his increased wealth, this aside I find myself agreeing with him on this even though I again have little doubt that a CF postcode would further bolster the Celtic Manor.

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ngtarr says...
9:37am Tue 19 Mar 13

I do not agree with the idea of newport being part of cardiff. not only could both cities lose their identity, it could also be detrimental to BOTH economies. newport should be left to be a city in its own right and so should cardiff.

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taliesin* says...
9:44am Tue 19 Mar 13

'If I were King ' - strange phrase but perhaps illustrates his mentality. very much a self promoter and personal wealth generator who has little regard for the serfs !!

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JoJoJoJo says...
9:45am Tue 19 Mar 13

Why spoil the success that is Cardiff by inflicting Newport on it? Surely that would just damage Cardiff? I admit it's too late to improve Newport but the answer is surely not to drag Cardiff down to the same level.

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Dee-Gee says...
9:46am Tue 19 Mar 13

I don't see how a re-branding exercise would help. Also, I suspect that if Cardiff *is* keen to get its mitts on our beloved 'Port, it's because they recognise the potential of Newport's unique selling points... as do a lot of Newportonians. It's mostly small-minded, smug "Free Parking and Roundabouts" acolytes that like to keep Newport down. You knows who I mean :)

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Roggie girl says...
9:56am Tue 19 Mar 13

If he was that concerned for his home town of Newport, with all his wealth you'd think he would financially help out more to get this "city" to a reasonable standard like it was years & years ago instead of coming out with quotes like this... Personally he's just getting himself some free publicity, he couldn't give a **** about Newport just like the Council :(
Very sad times....

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ncfcr says...
9:57am Tue 19 Mar 13

If you all hate Cardiff City clap your hands.

*clap, clap*

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whatintheworld says...
10:04am Tue 19 Mar 13

weath does not breed sensibility.

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Owain Vaughan says...
10:06am Tue 19 Mar 13

You've got to love the predictability of flame-bait articles like this:

1) Say something controversial
2) Get lots of people talking about you
3) ???
4) Profit!

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iloveroundabouts says...
10:17am Tue 19 Mar 13

This is gold, he's had his golf tourny (££££ thankyou) did Newport see any profit from this, not by the look of it. Sat at "home" in Ottawa twiddling his thumbs, mmm how can i get more business in the manor, ahh haa get a Cardiff postcode, stay in Canada and keep your accent with you.

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HurricaneShane says...
10:27am Tue 19 Mar 13

The Ryder Cup was meant to inspire economic growth in Newport but instead, as the event loomed, access to the Celtic Manor was directly from the m4 and never THROUGH the city itself. It's a bad idea for all concerned. Newport should remain Newport. I love Cardiff but Newport is my home town. I am not blinded by love for the place but I know it CAN be saved if we have people willing to make the changes and are able to think forward. I think there is too much competition to compete with Cardiff and I think Newport should return to being a town. City status hasn't helped us at all. If things carry on as they are under the current council and climate - Newport town center will be remodelled as a housing project and the main shopping areas will simply be on industrial estates.

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Floppy backed says...
10:31am Tue 19 Mar 13

Oh yes here he goes again, the man who has done so much great to 'Newport'. Why has this man got so much opinion, Newport does not benefited from the Celtic against what NBC have spent on him. The Ryder cup did nothing but provide a nicely lit roundabout. The staff are badly paid and his hotel no longer holds the kudos - read trip advisor.

This man is seriously embarrassed and all he wants is the postcode. Why doesnt he plough some money into the city centre - perhaps open an academy school, or help the local deprived schools with a sports venue?

I bet NBC love him undermining the place and telling them how it should change - perhaps he sound become a councillor.

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Trefor says...
10:31am Tue 19 Mar 13

What possible reason could there be for Welsh Residents to listen to an Anglo/Canadian resident when it comes to what is best for us.

I suppose this arrogance comes from the pocket, the bank balance, and the international figures, i.e. the international movers and shakers he rubs shoulders with.

Butt out Matthews, we`ll decide what`s best for us not you.

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iloveroundabouts says...
10:32am Tue 19 Mar 13

HurricaneShane wrote:
The Ryder Cup was meant to inspire economic growth in Newport but instead, as the event loomed, access to the Celtic Manor was directly from the m4 and never THROUGH the city itself. It's a bad idea for all concerned. Newport should remain Newport. I love Cardiff but Newport is my home town. I am not blinded by love for the place but I know it CAN be saved if we have people willing to make the changes and are able to think forward. I think there is too much competition to compete with Cardiff and I think Newport should return to being a town. City status hasn't helped us at all. If things carry on as they are under the current council and climate - Newport town center will be remodelled as a housing project and the main shopping areas will simply be on industrial estates.
Totally agree, the town center will eventually be non-existent and when you see the "new" car park from the outside it looks great but look inside, no shops, or pound cheapy shops, dreadful.

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Owain Vaughan says...
10:37am Tue 19 Mar 13

Since when is a car park supposed to contain shops?

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dolphinpie says...
10:47am Tue 19 Mar 13

Can't we join England instead?
Wales has an inward thinking backward mentality that's primarily hell bent on promoting a dying language and very little else.

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iloveroundabouts says...
10:48am Tue 19 Mar 13

Owain Vaughan wrote:
Since when is a car park supposed to contain shops?
Are you stupid?

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Christian Grail says...
10:59am Tue 19 Mar 13

I used to work for Matthews all he cares about is his golf, not Newport. The Ryder cup was the nail in the coffin for Newport not its resurrection. Newport council need to stop listening to the likes of him, lower city centre rates and encourage local people to start businesses to revive the city and create jobs not destroy what identity and dignity we have left!

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Owain Vaughan says...
11:10am Tue 19 Mar 13

iloveroundabouts wrote:
Owain Vaughan wrote:
Since when is a car park supposed to contain shops?
Are you stupid?
No I am not. Last time I checked a "CAR PARK" was a place to PARK a CAR.

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jimboblue says...
11:14am Tue 19 Mar 13

How is it too late to improve Newport? Silly thing to say. When we are dead, the port will still be alive. Why can't "the king" dip his hands in his pocket again and invest in Newport, his place of birth, promote the city to potential retailers etc and bring town back to its former glory.

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iloveroundabouts says...
11:17am Tue 19 Mar 13

Owain Vaughan wrote:
iloveroundabouts wrote:
Owain Vaughan wrote:
Since when is a car park supposed to contain shops?
Are you stupid?
No I am not. Last time I checked a "CAR PARK" was a place to PARK a CAR.
I'll not explain it for you because your poor brain cells (if you have any) won't be able to handle it!!

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Owain Vaughan says...
11:18am Tue 19 Mar 13

The main problem with Newport is the attitude of many of its citizens. As soon as the slightest problem arises they just give up and start moaning. We need to regenerate a sense of civic pride before regenerating the city itself.

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Owain Vaughan says...
11:20am Tue 19 Mar 13

iloveroundabouts, I know perfectly well that you are referring to the Kingsway Centre, even if you don't. You called it a "car park" and then launched into an unnecessary ad-hominem attack on someone who pointed this out to you. That is not considered good internet etiquette.

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dolphinpie says...
11:20am Tue 19 Mar 13

Iloverpindabouts - why is it stupid not to want Pound Shops inside a carpark?
People in glass houses probably shouldn't spell 'center' as a Canadian would

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lowandhardandinthecorner says...
11:37am Tue 19 Mar 13

Cardiff is successful because of the many millions pumped into it by the Senedd.
As for the aspiring " king " of the Celtic Manor, what an infantile attitude and insulting attitude to his own city, perhaps he would do better by promoting Newport rather than cultivating the cult of Cardiff.
No respect for this man at all.

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billy boy 2 says...
11:47am Tue 19 Mar 13

A wonderful Idea we might get a tidy council who can run a city properly then

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tazeez says...
11:50am Tue 19 Mar 13

He's always had a problem with geography. He tried to put the Celtic Manor Resort in the Usk Valley, Monmouthshire, several years ago because he thought that it conveyed some kind of inflated status!!

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iloveroundabouts says...
11:58am Tue 19 Mar 13

No wonder Newport is the way it is, god help us!!!

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Mervyn James says...
11:59am Tue 19 Mar 13

So all that 'Newport will benefit via the Ryder Golf' was a ploy to get freebies from the Newport Council ? surprise not ! We know Newport is on the skids, but why couldn't Terry offer his expertise as a businessman to revive Newport ? We know what is going on, I cannot see Cardiff bailing us out, our loss is their or Cwmbran's gain.

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iloveroundabouts says...
12:03pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Owain Vaughan wrote:
iloveroundabouts, I know perfectly well that you are referring to the Kingsway Centre, even if you don't. You called it a "car park" and then launched into an unnecessary ad-hominem attack on someone who pointed this out to you. That is not considered good internet etiquette.
I wonder why people argue, get a life and stop trying to sound intellectual, i was replying to another post and yes you knew what i was on about but decided to turn it into someone else.

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Owain Vaughan says...
12:04pm Tue 19 Mar 13

tazeez wrote:
He's always had a problem with geography. He tried to put the Celtic Manor Resort in the Usk Valley, Monmouthshire, several years ago because he thought that it conveyed some kind of inflated status!!
While both of those are accurate geographical descriptions the man eventually did see sense, just as he will with this nonsense idea.

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Adrian Williams says...
12:08pm Tue 19 Mar 13

I love living in Newport and I'm proud of my home town - all the snipers are tiresome, unhelpful keyboard warriors with nothing better to do. Newport is the same as anywhere else - it's got nice areas and it's got bad areas. Nobody can tell me that the top of Ridgeway/ Allt yr yn isn't a beautiful part of Newport and a million times nicer than your likes of Ely and Grangetown in Cardiff

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Owain Vaughan says...
12:21pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Adrian you are 100% right. The positivists should stick together and keep promulgating our message of hope!

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PaulHalliday says...
12:33pm Tue 19 Mar 13

join our debate at www.facebook.com/you
newport

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Severn40 says...
12:57pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Adrian Williams wrote:
I love living in Newport and I'm proud of my home town - all the snipers are tiresome, unhelpful keyboard warriors with nothing better to do. Newport is the same as anywhere else - it's got nice areas and it's got bad areas. Nobody can tell me that the top of Ridgeway/ Allt yr yn isn't a beautiful part of Newport and a million times nicer than your likes of Ely and Grangetown in Cardiff
True but places like Llandaff, Bute Park and Cathays Park are equally attractive.

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Owain Vaughan says...
1:03pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Precisely -- they are two separate cities, both with their good and bad parts; Both with their own histories, identities and rivalries. Long may that sensible state of affairs continue!

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Katie Re-Registered says...
1:20pm Tue 19 Mar 13

"Many people won't like these words but I believe this started a long time ago - size matters.""

Yes, it started as far back as the Romans: Biggus Diccus, for instance;)

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heresphil says...
1:41pm Tue 19 Mar 13

So Newport City Council is completely rubbish while Cardiff City Council makes no controversial decisions and has a 100% satisfaction rate amongst its residents? I think not.

And let's not forget that a large chunk of Newport's current economic malaise is down to the various strategic decisions made down at the bay (or Cathays Park before that) favouring Cardiff, notably the obstruction of Newport's own barrage plans and the diversion of the Ebbw Valley rail link.

I totally support the principle of a city region that would promote economic integration and investment into the whole of South East Wales equally but based on the strength of its local identities. Yet I suspect Sir T (and many at the bay) see the idea as MegaCardiff 1, governed from the centre and swallowing up its surroundings wholesale.

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Serpent_terror says...
1:44pm Tue 19 Mar 13

O dear here we go again anyway I don't think so Terry thank god its just your opinion........!

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Michael Weedall says...
1:45pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Terry Matthew's I have no respect for this man he looks after himself. And the Ryder Cup what a load of rubbish it has done sweet FA for Newport or if it did like so many people predicted what was it 4 days of that man making money for himself. Let's ask local businesses how much they made in the 4 days and what they think its done for Newport. So leave it as Newport and do something positive with it.

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Owain Vaughan says...
1:56pm Tue 19 Mar 13

I agree totally with heresphil. It's amazing how short people's memories are. We can add all the lottery money they've sucked up over the years too. Essentially anything beginning with "Millennium" in Cardiff was paid for with our money.

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swnpayne says...
2:17pm Tue 19 Mar 13

ryder cup you just lined youre pockets mr mathews what have you done for newport nothing

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HurricaneShane says...
2:19pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Mr Matthews has an overly inflated opinion and the moment he started his comment as " If I was King..." I switched off. Then again, if I was a billionnaire, I'd be equally as pompous as he. I don't really like any notion of boundaries blurring but should we stop evolution of the economy?. I would love Newport to become a great place again but I have my suspicions that NCC simply don't want to make the changes to do it and will eventually bow to this notion of a duel communinity which NCC and CCC will refer to as Carport.

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Dai the Milk says...
2:54pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Adrian Williams wrote:
I love living in Newport and I'm proud of my home town - all the snipers are tiresome, unhelpful keyboard warriors with nothing better to do. Newport is the same as anywhere else - it's got nice areas and it's got bad areas. Nobody can tell me that the top of Ridgeway/ Allt yr yn isn't a beautiful part of Newport and a million times nicer than your likes of Ely and Grangetown in Cardiff
....or the Gaer Fort and Penylan and Christchurch and Fourteen Locks and St Bride's and Caerleon and, dare I say it, the Celtic Manor It's time to talk it up not concentrate just on one negative section of it.

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spice15 says...
3:22pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Newport should never have had be awarded a city status, it has does nothing to achieve city status. Terry Matthews needs to get his head out of his own **** and realise all this is about him and his precious hotel. Whatever gives him the impression that Cardiff would even consider taken Newport on is laughable! Newport sadly is just a bygone town. Newport should be stripped of its "City Status" as it is one big joke!

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Owain Vaughan says...
3:33pm Tue 19 Mar 13

How predictably ironic that following Dai the Milk's post requesting people to "talk up" Newport we have the stupefying ignorance of "Newport is one big joke". :(

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blackandamber says...
4:10pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Well if Cardiff is so wonderful Mr Matthews why aren't you living there.
If the finances of Wales were shared out fairly instead of everything being sucked into Cardiff, Wales just might be a better place. We in Newport can't even get a short stretch of railway line open between Rogerstone and Newport and it's because of Cardiff Bays greed.

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lfc1981 says...
4:17pm Tue 19 Mar 13

I don't think that becoming a district of Cardiff would help either Newport or Wales. If we could just see the council have a little more creative thinking in the vision for the city instead of just a shopping centre, then maybe the city will be able to bounce back. They should look at places like Liverpool and Bristol, these cities have once been in a terrible state, and, whilst I admit they have seen heavy investment, with some help from the council on making this an attractive area I am sure it could be done. I always hear that the city was once a great place, well things can't always be great, take the rough with the smooth! If the shopping developments do happen then business' will come back and then the council needs to capitalise.

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Owain Vaughan says...
4:20pm Tue 19 Mar 13

We need help from the Cardiff Bay leeches as well. They've pumped shameful amounts of our money into their place, but as blackandamber states, they won't even run trains from Ebbw Vale to Newport. Not cannot, but will not. Unforgivable.

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Serpent_terror says...
4:59pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Terry i got one thing to say to you

Lier Lier pants on fire your not from Newport are you now tell the truth and stop bullshitting everyone.

The truth is out there...........!

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cjwales1 says...
5:21pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Just wondering, as I live half a mile from the Celtic Manor would TM's reasoning that I no longer live in Newport Nor Cardiff but the Beautiful USK Valley???
Gonna have to reassess as am sure council tax will go up :-(

CJ

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gordelpus says...
5:29pm Tue 19 Mar 13

I think no good will come of this. Newport townie chavs will crossbreed with Cardiff city chavs and produce new and even more scummier super chavs replete with bigger status staffies, grubbier tracksuits and enhanced swearing and spitting capabilities. Newport will be going head to head with Hartlepool for the title Chav Capitol of the UK. Result.

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lfc1981 says...
5:50pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Isn't it a sad state of affairs, when delinquent, judgemental people have to wade in with comments of utter nonsense. You go on about 'chavs' as if you are something special, get a grip on your life and don't worry about what other people are up to. There is good and bad everywhere, it's just a sign of the times that young people with problems exist!

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cath 872 says...
6:38pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Its okay for Terry Matthews to make these comments, he's rich enough to live elsewhere. I'm also pretty fed up of AM's blaming others for the state of
Newport, why don't these people get together and sort this town out, instead of "its not my fault, its the other party". Infants, the lot of them.....

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welshmen says...
6:56pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Owain Vaughan wrote:
If we are talking "city regions" rather than just absorbing one place into another, a Severnside region could easily incorporate Glamorgan, Monmouthshire, Gloucestershire and Somerset, with a new International airport at Newport ;)
Good thinking, i would also add, To stop Newport being adhered to Cardiff..

Mr Terry Matthews could lend is influence and attract a lot of investment in the Severn Barrage, with another Nuclear Power Station at Hinckley Point in the near future it will threatening all of Wales, England and all the wild life if it develops a problem over heating.

I think it is well over due to get this Barrage under way, an Airport could be incorporated in the Construction of the Barrage.

Newport and the rest of Wales & England could benefit, we won't need to adjoin Cardiff, yes it would need a massive cash investment, Peter Haine love him or hate him he is Supporting this Barrage Construction, to acquire this, Mr Matthews could attract that investment.

For Newport to grow as most of us want we need jobs, money for people to spend,shops again could prosper.

Newport's dole queue could shrink, or disappear and for those who think we have a few druggie's who wont get off their back sides, the DWP could introduce a drug test, if you pass positive you don't get your £71.00 JSA same as Australia....

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H`NCFC` says...
7:05pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Oh Dear Terrence, this statement is a typical PR stunt aimed at your Hotel and your thinking that a CF postcode would benefit your Hotel. `Wrong` Newport has more potential than Cardiff `Fact` true investors have left Newport, our Council need to do more. Also just look at the voting numbers, that speaks volumes.
Keep your opinions to yourself regarding Newport being part of Cardiff. You really could start a war, people are that passionate about our beloved Newport.

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Roggie girl says...
7:12pm Tue 19 Mar 13

cath 872 wrote:
Its okay for Terry Matthews to make these comments, he's rich enough to live elsewhere. I'm also pretty fed up of AM's blaming others for the state of
Newport, why don't these people get together and sort this town out, instead of "its not my fault, its the other party". Infants, the lot of them.....
Cath I totally agree....I also agree with an earlier comment that we shouldn't of been granted city status to start with... Newport can be saved... make it back to a fab town again like it used to be... The powers that be know how unhappy the local people are & we know we cannot ever compete with Cardiff... Terry Matthews is just thinking of himself and of the £'s he would make... Like I said earlier, he has enough money, why not put some towards helping Newport out instead of pointless comments just to create free publicity for himself...

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33daverave says...
8:12pm Tue 19 Mar 13

tazeez wrote:
He's always had a problem with geography. He tried to put the Celtic Manor Resort in the Usk Valley, Monmouthshire, several years ago because he thought that it conveyed some kind of inflated status!!
The address is still the Vale of Usk, no mention of Newport.
Obviously ashamed of the place.

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real comment says...
8:13pm Tue 19 Mar 13

political change is required in newport. problem solved

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Rogerstone says...
8:51pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Surely Cardiff and Newport should be part of Swansea - Premier League City

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slice_of_life says...
9:02pm Tue 19 Mar 13

One of the good things about Sir Terry's comments was that it actually brought out some pro-Newport people and also decent debate with actual decent reasoning (for and against, but at least sensible) without simply whinging about things. Very refreshing to see this in the Argus comments.

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Winston0909 says...
9:54pm Tue 19 Mar 13

What would this new region be called ? Carport or newdiff, its gotta be carport for me !!!

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The_Vulcan says...
10:28pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Newport is a dive, end of.

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The_Vulcan says...
10:28pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Newport is a dive, end of.

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FormerlyfromthePort says...
11:17pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Although Sir Matthews has an rather odd way of describing how he would solve Newport's ills there maybe a kernel of truth within his rhetoric. If we look at London for example, the smaller towns and cities surrounding the great metropolis benefit by there co-location but still retain their identity. This is achieved by working together and realising that this co-habitation can be mutually beneficial. An integrated transport policy would benefit the region such as faster, cheaper more frequent trains and buses through-out the region. A functional regional airport that acts as a gateway to European tourism and business. Cessation of the bridge tolls to bring across the English pound. Use of port facilities for recycling and combined heat power plants to power regional housing project and light industry parks. Newport has a rich cultural heritage, this is written in the stone of the High Street facades - bring in the market town traders and reinvigorate town space living. Community service for petty crime to include high street cleaning and removing gum and graffiti. Taken together in an integrated approach (i.e. from top to trader) would breath life back into a city in need of leadership and support. The Newport coat of arms represents 'strength by land, by sea, by air' it needs to made strong again.

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JossexMaindee says...
1:34am Wed 20 Mar 13

Newport is older than Cardiff, with more history. I read somewhere (sorry can't remember where) that the expression "well, I'll go to Cardiff" started when the thought of going to Cardiff was ludicrous as Newport was so much better. Now, the opposite is true, but maybe, just maybe, it won't always be so. Keep the faith and keep us separate!

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JossexMaindee says...
1:39am Wed 20 Mar 13

Newport is older than Cardiff, with more history. I read somewhere (sorry can't remember where) that the expression "well, I'll go to Cardiff" started when the thought of going to Cardiff was ludicrous as Newport was so much better. Now, the opposite is true, but maybe, just maybe, it won't always be so. Keep the faith and keep us separate!

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scraptheWAG says...
7:03am Wed 20 Mar 13

At last people are getting the picture oil was not found in cardiff bay no manufacturing boom in grangetown. Yes cardiff is built on huge numbers of over paid public sector jobs the WAG alone employees thousands . All the grant money that would have been spread across Wales in years gone by is now all sent done the BAY of plenty.

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Floppy backed says...
7:28am Wed 20 Mar 13

scraptheWAG wrote:
At last people are getting the picture oil was not found in cardiff bay no manufacturing boom in grangetown. Yes cardiff is built on huge numbers of over paid public sector jobs the WAG alone employees thousands . All the grant money that would have been spread across Wales in years gone by is now all sent done the BAY of plenty.
so agree!

Sir Terr needs on concentrate on the state of his mediocre hotel, it needs serious overhaul everywhere. So tatty in many areas. I know that the complaints are huge, the food can be dire and the staff over worked for little pay. Its not 5* its 4 and many occasions I wonder if if deserves 4!

Once he has an amazing hotel that's not continually offering cheap deals and then charging for parking then he can hold his head high. There are better entrepreneur running much more successful business but they dont seem to comment on their town or undermine the LA.

Might of just shot yourself in the foot!

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Trefor says...
8:00am Wed 20 Mar 13

blackandamber , he does`nt live in Newport let alone his preferred home Cardiff.

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coalpicker says...
9:03am Wed 20 Mar 13

SIR Terence should get up todate Newport and Cardiff are soon to lineup
with the Falklands in the the UN .India and Pakistan claiming them, having colonised both and as they are beginning to resemble Mogadishu I would not be surprised if Somalia didn't put in a claim as well, all this by curtsey of the seditious Labour party .

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Mervyn James says...
9:09am Wed 20 Mar 13

FormerlyfromthePort wrote:
Although Sir Matthews has an rather odd way of describing how he would solve Newport's ills there maybe a kernel of truth within his rhetoric. If we look at London for example, the smaller towns and cities surrounding the great metropolis benefit by there co-location but still retain their identity. This is achieved by working together and realising that this co-habitation can be mutually beneficial. An integrated transport policy would benefit the region such as faster, cheaper more frequent trains and buses through-out the region. A functional regional airport that acts as a gateway to European tourism and business. Cessation of the bridge tolls to bring across the English pound. Use of port facilities for recycling and combined heat power plants to power regional housing project and light industry parks. Newport has a rich cultural heritage, this is written in the stone of the High Street facades - bring in the market town traders and reinvigorate town space living. Community service for petty crime to include high street cleaning and removing gum and graffiti. Taken together in an integrated approach (i.e. from top to trader) would breath life back into a city in need of leadership and support. The Newport coat of arms represents 'strength by land, by sea, by air' it needs to made strong again.
Cultural heritage indeed, via the chartists, and successive Newport councils have panned them, we had an Tory council that labelled them terrorists and wanted John Frost references removed. Most readers do not care about the 'ship' and the castle is a joke that was an open toilet and drug using den before being fenced off, the whole thing sandwiched between two bridges. It could be said you cannot cast pearls before swine, it is quite true in Newport. They denigrate everything Newport ever had.

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blackandamber says...
9:22am Wed 20 Mar 13

FormerlyfromthePort wrote:
Although Sir Matthews has an rather odd way of describing how he would solve Newport's ills there maybe a kernel of truth within his rhetoric. If we look at London for example, the smaller towns and cities surrounding the great metropolis benefit by there co-location but still retain their identity. This is achieved by working together and realising that this co-habitation can be mutually beneficial. An integrated transport policy would benefit the region such as faster, cheaper more frequent trains and buses through-out the region. A functional regional airport that acts as a gateway to European tourism and business. Cessation of the bridge tolls to bring across the English pound. Use of port facilities for recycling and combined heat power plants to power regional housing project and light industry parks. Newport has a rich cultural heritage, this is written in the stone of the High Street facades - bring in the market town traders and reinvigorate town space living. Community service for petty crime to include high street cleaning and removing gum and graffiti. Taken together in an integrated approach (i.e. from top to trader) would breath life back into a city in need of leadership and support. The Newport coat of arms represents 'strength by land, by sea, by air' it needs to made strong again.
I agree with a lot you have written, but I'll say it again. We can't get a short stretch of railway line open between Rogerstone and Newport. And there is no reason why it cannot be opened today therefore
one must come to the conclusion that that Cardiff's greed is the only reason preventing this. Our AM's and Councillors should hang their heads in shame that this saga has gone on for so long. Just one small thing that could start to make a difference to our city

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Gareth says...
9:36am Wed 20 Mar 13

Owain Vaughan wrote:
Adrian you are 100% right. The positivists should stick together and keep promulgating our message of hope!
Absolutely: where do I sign up?

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Gareth says...
9:42am Wed 20 Mar 13

I fink's Newport iz rubbish un some1 else shood sort out my lyfe cuz I waysted my freey skoolin like un terry gor loadsa money like so he obveeusly owe's it 2 me un eye gunner winj un wine un comeplane over un over until some1 fixe's it. nor my folt. some1 else's.

(I just wanted to check... nope, life isn't greener on that side of the fence after all.)

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Mervyn James says...
10:04am Wed 20 Mar 13

Will no-one free us from the ramblings of this insidious troll ? Sorry Owain not you :) We don't want hope, we want action let the positives march on Newport with their brooms and frog marching the chavs out of town...

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Libby5 says...
11:27am Wed 20 Mar 13

On a personal level, I actually find Terry Matthews comments very sad, I have not always lived here but I am so proud of my Newport heritage and to see that swallowed up into the Cardiff 'brand' would be heart breaking. On a professional level as an ex Brand Manager with many years experience, I would argue that Newport has a strong identity and is a distinct brand in its own right. Brands do however have to managed and the 'Newport brand' has unfortunately been neglected by both 'clueless' successive councils and also Terry Matthews himself who was in a perfect position to have the courage to take pride in his hometown and 'put Newport on the map' Instead he chose to dissociate his hotel and the Ryder Cup with Newport in stating the Celtic Manor address as 'the Usk Valley' and his management teams telling staff during the Ryder Cup to direct guests to restaurants etc in Cardiff - very sad. I do however firmly believe that the transport network needs great investment and improvement, this could have a dramatic positive impact on Newport. .In my view Newport is not dead - the unique brand can be brought back to life it just needs people with influence to believe in it and support it not just give up on it in pursuit of supposed greater riches.

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Mervyn James says...
3:57pm Wed 20 Mar 13

Time for the positives to put up....

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newportexpat says...
4:08pm Wed 20 Mar 13

could it possibly make Newport any worse than it already is? Anything is worth a try to & get Newport back to the thriving exciting place it once was - I put the whole fiasco down to bad decision making over the years by a succession of councilors who are probably still employed by the council!!

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scraptheWAG says...
8:31pm Wed 20 Mar 13

i fell there is no hope for newport all the public sector jobs were rounded up and shipped down to cardiff and under a huge job creation sceme the WAG was formed - there is simply no money left over for newport

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foxy3rd says...
9:45pm Wed 20 Mar 13

Who knows we might get our streets cleaned properly,our roads tarmacced properly,might be able to walk around without having to keep your eyes on the paving to avoid the dog muck,be able to walk or drive over the George St. bridge when it's raining without ploughing through torrents of water,be able to buy something in the market,be able to walk the riveside walk and avoid all the alcoholics in the summer.Not keep getting the High St. dug up every 5 minutes,go shopping in the city and need more than looosoe change or even use your card,see the town bridge actually painted,walk under Chepstow Rd. railway bridge and not be ankle deep in pigeon droppings,walk under Wharf Rd. bridge and not have to avoid all the cascading water from the railway.No it's not that bad,the pigeon droppings don't quite get to ankle heighth.

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Nataliee93 says...
11:13pm Wed 20 Mar 13

I dont see anything wrong with the idea, if we'd still be called newport. Think how big london is, all because all the surrounding towns are classed as London.
And i dont see how the AM can say "Newport is a city in its own right"
We should never have became a city in the first place! Newport has gone downhill ever since!!

Things cant possibly get any worse for us than what its at now!

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Mervyn James says...
9:34am Thu 21 Mar 13

Cardiff has no desire or need to include or help Newport, they are in competition to Newport. Why would they bail us out ? I gather Cardiff are interested in Tredegar House and the Roman Ruins of Caerleon (Re label them Tredegar House in Cardiff etc....), but not interested at all in Newport itself. There is nothing of use or gain for them. As regards to City Status, it is based on having a Cathedral at St Woolos..

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MERoden says...
2:07pm Thu 21 Mar 13

What a real cheek this Terry Matthews has. He critices Newport, yet he is the one who opened Wales' Biggest Charity Shop (St Anne's Hospice shop) in Newport City Centre on the 15th November 2012 (the same day as Cardiff got a new famous Hamley's toy store). There are too many charity shops already in Newport. He had the cheek to give a big prime retail unit to a charity shop who pay half rent and half business rates, and don't pay any staff wages. Therefore, charity shops don't contribute to employment. It is not fair on other businesses in the city centre. It creates unfair competition.

If Terry Matthews wants to help Newport, why doesn't he give some of his billions to help existing businesses in the city centre and help to encourage the bigger retailers to invest in Newport City Centre?

Newport City Centre was good in the past, and it could be good again with the right investment.

Therefore, do I think Newport should be swallowed up by Cardiff? Definitely NOT. Newport has it's good points, such as Tredegar House, Fourteen Locks, Bellevue Park, Newport Cathedral in St Woolas, Wildings in the City Centre, Arnolds in the City Centre, Java Coffee House in the City Centre.

If only Newport could get it's city centre right, Newport could be great. There are already a few signs this is starting to happen, such as Admiral Insurance opening up a new office in the Cambrian Centre development. Work has actually started on this.

We need to attract more inward investment and startup businesses. This is only going to happen if people start talking up the city. Stop spreading bad gossip about Newport and start spreading positive things about it.

Even Cardiff has it's rough areas. Actually Cardiff has a lot of very rough areas, such as Ely, Careau, Fairwater, St Mellons, Trowbridge, Rumney, plus there are a lot of fights on St Mary Street in Cardiff City Centre at night time due to people drinking too much. I could go on.

Therefore, keep Newport as Newport, not as part of Cardiff.

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lowandhardandinthecorner says...
11:58pm Thu 21 Mar 13

If this self-styled once and future king thinks he's done himself some good with free publicity - then I think it may have backfired!
I, for one , will never go to the Celtic Manor again.

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Mervyn James says...
9:31am Fri 22 Mar 13

MERoden wrote:
What a real cheek this Terry Matthews has. He critices Newport, yet he is the one who opened Wales' Biggest Charity Shop (St Anne's Hospice shop) in Newport City Centre on the 15th November 2012 (the same day as Cardiff got a new famous Hamley's toy store). There are too many charity shops already in Newport. He had the cheek to give a big prime retail unit to a charity shop who pay half rent and half business rates, and don't pay any staff wages. Therefore, charity shops don't contribute to employment. It is not fair on other businesses in the city centre. It creates unfair competition.

If Terry Matthews wants to help Newport, why doesn't he give some of his billions to help existing businesses in the city centre and help to encourage the bigger retailers to invest in Newport City Centre?

Newport City Centre was good in the past, and it could be good again with the right investment.

Therefore, do I think Newport should be swallowed up by Cardiff? Definitely NOT. Newport has it's good points, such as Tredegar House, Fourteen Locks, Bellevue Park, Newport Cathedral in St Woolas, Wildings in the City Centre, Arnolds in the City Centre, Java Coffee House in the City Centre.

If only Newport could get it's city centre right, Newport could be great. There are already a few signs this is starting to happen, such as Admiral Insurance opening up a new office in the Cambrian Centre development. Work has actually started on this.

We need to attract more inward investment and startup businesses. This is only going to happen if people start talking up the city. Stop spreading bad gossip about Newport and start spreading positive things about it.

Even Cardiff has it's rough areas. Actually Cardiff has a lot of very rough areas, such as Ely, Careau, Fairwater, St Mellons, Trowbridge, Rumney, plus there are a lot of fights on St Mary Street in Cardiff City Centre at night time due to people drinking too much. I could go on.

Therefore, keep Newport as Newport, not as part of Cardiff.
It's is good they are building and providing work in Newport via the Cambrian centre, how it will translate into more shop variety and address the attitudes of Newport residents is the point. Newport was been screwed by LG and Terry Mathews, it seems our council is a soft touch and not very savvy about investments.

I don't think people are spreading bad news, they see their city centre collapsing whilst other areas some a lot smaller, that seem to be holding their own. Most can see through the excuse it happens everywhere else too.

We all are aware of the 'downturn' what we would all like to see,is it being addressed. The positives of Newport need to get to the Civic Centre and tell the councillors exactly HOW to do this, all the debate is here, none of it where it will count.

We know it is chav city central, but decent investment of the right ideas into the centre will drive these morons out.

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Taffyrock says...
2:46pm Fri 22 Mar 13

I think Newport should be a region of Pakistan; we would be entitled to more aid from the UK government that way, for redevelopment.

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Libby5 says...
5:15pm Fri 22 Mar 13

The more I read the more I am convinced that this is a simple and shrewd self motivated business move by Terry Mathews. It has been well publicised that he has ambitions to extend the Celtic Manor resort to become one of the largest conference centres in Europe, the location 'Newport' just wouldn't cut it, it would have to be Cardiff. He has little consideration for Newport's heritage and its people, this was clearly evident withe the Ryder Cup which was held in the Usk Valley near Cardiff. Very sad... let's stick together and re build our city and show him we have an identity and we won't be sold out!

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b3talover says...
12:31pm Sat 23 Mar 13

Proof, if any was needed that too much money causes madness and leads to "Roman Emperor syndrome."

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Radio Wales says...
4:10pm Sat 23 Mar 13

Mervyn James asks why does Cardiff have it's sights set on Newport?

I'd venture a guess that it's a lot to do with the only Green Belt (and Green Wedge in Wales, the Wentlooge to Lisvane area placed to stop the two cities colliding.
Plus the Wentlooge Flats SSSI that is cramping their expansion ambitions to the east.
There is a LOT of lovely development land that we have and want to keep, but they want to make money off. I just wonder how big the bungs will have to be to get our council to agree to it? By the state of the place here, I'd say they've already been paid, because this long-time-coming plan has a bit of history behind it.
Remember Monmouthshire used to start at the river Rumney bridge and it's been going steadily downhill ever since

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scraptheWAG says...
5:53pm Sat 23 Mar 13

oh how wales has gone done hill since the inception of the WAG. How sad that people will still vote labour no matter what they do to them. The WAG have transferred all the public sector jobs into Cardiff leaving places like newport in a terrible state I did write to out AM John Griffiths about it and guess what he blamed the coalition cutting grants to wales I reminded him that the WAG costs 400 milllion a year to run and does a truly terrible job and 200 million is wasted on a defunct language and guess what no reply thanks John.

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