Park is lovely...if you're a goat (From South Wales Argus)

Park is lovely...if you're a goat

1:42pm Friday 15th March 2013 in Letters

VERY few folk use their cars when they go to central London – they catch a bus, or an underground train. In London (or even Cardiff), they can enjoy the city parks and cultural venues.

Newport has very little to offer in terms of city centre parks and cultural venues. Its nearest city centre park, of any distinction, is Bellevue Park. Unfortuna-tely, one needs to have the physical attributes of a Himalayan Sherpa, or a mountain goat, to take full advantage of this amenity. The nature of shops and shopping has changed forever. There is no longer a need for the small, general shop in the city/town centre, selling the same goods and services as a local supermarket. However, there will always be the need for the specialist shop or business – butcher, tailor, or candlestick maker. Many of the buildings in Newport’s central area (and beyond) are long past their ‘sell-by-date’, and not fit for purpose. These should be demolished and converted into attractive small parks and public spaces.

Newport desperately needs good-quality cultural venues (particularly in the city centre). There needs to be better access to the city centre (an inner ring-road). The inner city centre residential areas need urgent redevelopment.

Brian Hayes Clearwell Court Newport