Let's call our city Zooport (From South Wales Argus)

Let's call our city Zooport

3:34pm Wednesday 9th January 2013 in Letters

I NOTICED in recent weeks that the subject of Newport changing its name was brought up again by a thinktank looking to improve and promote the city’s interest.

This subject has always interested me because like many others I have always found the name ‘Newport’ quite uninspiring and bland due to the fact that there are many other Newports already in the UK and that Newport’s port is no longer new but instead more minor in its status and usage. Many work colleagues and friends from the Valleys often refer to Newport as ‘Zooport’ as a means of mocking the great pride I hold for the place I call home.

The name ‘Zooport’ is also the adopted name of skating fraternities and younger generations of Newport who consider it cooler and more apt than boring ‘Newport’, as noted by the graffiti street fashion and social forums on the internet. With this in mind may I suggest changing Newport’s name and title to ‘Zooport’ and as a result building a zoo, either near the city centre or somewhere else very accessible in the city. With the old heavy industry now obsolete, modern Newport is desperately struggling to find an identity in the 21st century and could outshine its neighbours by offering something unique such as a modern zoo.

Matthew Pimm Milton Road, Newport