This city needs strong leader (From South Wales Argus)

This city needs strong leader

3:42pm Tuesday 5th February 2013 in Letters

MY WIFE and I, along with the thousands of other local citizens who made Newport city centre look and feel busy last Saturday morning, deserve better. We continue to support the market, the coffee shops and what is left of the other retailers, despite all the despairing and depressing empty shop windows.

We accept the shape and design of the shopping centre is a relic of the past, and needs to be modernised and compacted in an area between Charles Street and the railway station. We have known for years that we need to regenerate and attract inward investment.

Most of us, the public of Newport, are experts at what needs to be done and where we want to go, but not necessarily how to get there. That is the job of our well paid planners and economic development staff, our councillors and AMs, and, of course, Newport Unlimited. Goodness knows what they have been doing for the last ten years. For, despite all their master plans, (visit Newport Unlimited website to view); things seem to be getting worse and worse. Will somebody stand up and lead this city forward before it is too late?

Steve Delahaye Bassaleg Road Newport