Lots of potential

IN ONE or two of my previous published letters in the South Wales Argus, I suggested that it would be beneficial to the citizens of Newport if the city mayor (and councillors) were elected/chosen on the basis of their professional competence in town management and planning; rather than their political party allegiance. 
My second, related, topic concerns the fate of the former University of Wales college and campus. 
I suspect that if Newport had been under professionally qualified stewardship in the past, we would not now be considering demolishing this distinguished college building and its grounds – in order to build houses. 
In 2019 the Welsh Conference Centre will open its doors at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport. 
This conference centre will be able to cater for 4000 delegates at a time. 
Currently, there are probably less than 2000 suitable hotel rooms available in the Newport area. 
By about 2019 it is likely that a new railway station will be built at Caerleon. 
Then, clearly, it would make more sense to convert the old university building into a first-class hotel. 
Moreover, Caerleon Comprehensive School should be replaced by a state-of-the art school – the old university campus would not be suitable – regarding school playing fields. 
Looking further ahead, it is possible that by about 2030 there could be a tidal lagoon close to Newport and, perhaps, a weir across the River Usk, near Uskmouth. 
The weir, for example, would facilitate water transport (24/7) on the River Usk between, say, Newport Docks and Caerleon. 
The city of Newport has tremendous potential, but desperately needs continuous professional, strategic and innovative stewardship, to realise this potential.