Newport council still paying off debt of Lib Dem - Tory years

12:50pm Thursday 29th November 2012 in Letters

I HAVE just read the paper (November 22) and in all honesty, I am amazed at the claims made by ex-councillor Carmel Townsend.

The outcry that you ask for, Carmel, is loud and clear.

You and your husband Ed Townsend were both councillors during 2008-12 and in the four years that the Tories and LibDems had control of the council, you plunged Newport into millions of pounds of debt that will take years to clear.

There will be cuts right across the board to try and repay what you borrowed – and for what?

Our city centre was already like a ghost town, thanks to the mismanagement of your administration.

Newport is in dire straits and given that Labour took control back from you and your ilk seven months ago and, given the mess and the debt you left behind, it is hardly fair to expect four years of your mistakes to be rectified so soon.

Carmel, the impossible can be done in a few months, but miracles will take a lot longer!

Dave Hargrieves, Parry Drive, Newport

 

 

Comments(14)

james.dyer7@ntlworld.com says...
1:14pm Thu 29 Nov 12

You are not quite right there Mr Hargreaves. The Town Centre was well in decline when Labour were in power -= and where did all the cash go whiuch was saved for Harry's failed Barrage? All the mistakes and debt were well underway when Labour were in charge.

Report this post »

merlin the silure says...
4:52pm Thu 29 Nov 12

echo the above post-labour are equally to blame for the demise of the city centre-its been in freefall since well before 2008.

Report this post »

PaulHalliday says...
9:16pm Thu 29 Nov 12

Claims above are appalling. Dave Hargrieves needs to check their financial facts. The council Budget is in a much stronger position now than it was when the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives took over in 2008. I'd love to see the state of it when Labour are finished destroying the city.

Report this post »

james.dyer7@ntlworld.com says...
1:04am Fri 30 Nov 12

paul halliday - not sure what point you are making.

Report this post »

james jackson says...
10:11am Fri 30 Nov 12

James, I think Mr Halliday means that the finances were a mess four years ago and that the previous administration did a decent job of getting financial matters in some sort of order.
He can speak for himself, but I imagine he means that at the end of this FIVE year term, the situation might be very grave, especially as Labour are committed to "business as usual" and spending, spending, spending, with jobs for the boys.

Report this post »

james.dyer7@ntlworld.com says...
10:22am Fri 30 Nov 12

JaMES jACKSON - mAny thanks. i AGREE. YOU AIN'T SEEN NUTTIN YET!

Report this post »

brian819@btinternet.com says...
12:37pm Fri 30 Nov 12

You know, blame is only useful in memoirs and even that is debatable. I'd say that Newport is in a very, very undesirable position right now both economically and financially. However, what is past is past and the only way to look is forward. This is the responsibility of the elected members of the Council.
I have no idea exactly what the current financial situation is but surely it cannot be so bad that plans for the future at least cannot be considered and laid by the Councillors as soon as possible.
Once decided upon, let the townspeople know what your hopes are so they can see what is proposed. They, after all, is the sole reason that you are in office. They voted for you in their masses. Broadcast your intentions to one and all. Your supporters will think far more of this approach than playing the cards close to the chest.

Report this post »

brian819@btinternet.com says...
12:39pm Fri 30 Nov 12

They are, not they is.

Report this post »

pinpong says...
12:55pm Fri 30 Nov 12

Dave Hargreives. A good friend of Debbie Harvey and the Alway labour party. Dont take any notice of this loser. He knows that labour smashed and ruined newport for 30 plus years. Newport voted for a change in 2008 and it could do so again in 2017.

Report this post »

33daverave says...
8:29pm Fri 30 Nov 12

Napalm could do a better job than the Council.What a bunch of losers.

Report this post »

Bobevans says...
8:58am Sun 2 Dec 12

The major problem is that the failed Newport redevelopment has been allowed to drag on for several years without any real strategy, proper planning or sense of urgency. It has been allowed to just drift out of control.

Remember this scheme started well before the current recession and a should in fact have been completed for it so the recession is just an excuse by Newport Council & Newport Unlimited.

Further problems were the schemes they came up with were very costly and totally non-viable.

The current scheme is still not realistic and will certainly hit problems and is already falling behind schedule.
The reality is most people have limited time and will shop out of town and that will not change so Newport is catering for a much small customer base that will continue to decline

Report this post »

Bobevans says...
8:58am Sun 2 Dec 12

The major problem is that the failed Newport redevelopment has been allowed to drag on for several years without any real strategy, proper planning or sense of urgency. It has been allowed to just drift out of control.

Remember this scheme started well before the current recession and a should in fact have been completed for it so the recession is just an excuse by Newport Council & Newport Unlimited.

Further problems were the schemes they came up with were very costly and totally non-viable.

The current scheme is still not realistic and will certainly hit problems and is already falling behind schedule.
The reality is most people have limited time and will shop out of town and that will not change so Newport is catering for a much small customer base that will continue to decline

Report this post »

chris2727 says...
7:47am Mon 3 Dec 12

i see the little mess outside the market when i drove past the other day why on earth does a town the size of newport need a bus stop outside the market a couple of hundred metres down the road from the clapped out main bus stop. The whole thing is a absolute mess most of newport including that laughing stock of a train station needs pulling down and rebuilt.

Report this post »

Big Bus Driver says...
3:31am Thu 20 Dec 12

While the appearance of buildings is a matter of personal taste and I also happen to agree the new Newport Station does look strange it is very well thought out inside and a vast improvement over the previous with lifts for those people with disabilities and/or fat people and access (and ticketing facilities) from either entrance. It's not all bad in Newport and if you want shops go on the train to Cardiff it's only 15 minutes and a little over four pounds - great value.

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree