INVITES have gone out for people to take part in next week’s reNewport Dragons Den-style consultation with 95 people asking to give the city’s taskforce their big idea.

Over the last month residents of Newport have been asked to submit their ideas for how Newport could be improved to the reNewport website, and requests have now been sent out to ask if they would like to present them at an event next Thursday.

Each person should get a short slot of around five to six minutes to scope out their idea to the taskforce at the event, which will now take place in the University of South Wales Newport City Campus building.

Simon Gibson, chairman of the Welsh Government-backed business development project, said the response had been fantastic and that the project had received very good ideas from those who have taken part s o far.

“There have been 95 requests for consultation,” said Mr Gibson. “Not everybody will take up the offer. Last night[MON] people received a request to book an appointment.”

He said people that book will be given an E-ticket with a QR Code that they will be able to use when they arrive for their appointment at the University building on September 12.

Mr Gibson said some of the ideas have been “very good”: “They’re all very varied, some make suggestions in sport, others in culture. It’s excellent.”

He said bookings for the consultation session had not maxed out yet, but if it runs over the event will need to run to a second day.

The taskforce chairman and chief executive of Wesley Clover added that he didn’t think the taskforce would be able to see people who just turn up – and that anyone else who hasn’t yet registered their interest would need to make a suggestion online.

He added that there was still time to make a booking.

The Argus previously reported comments by Mr Gibson that the taskforce’s projects could bring thousands of people into the city centre if they came to fruition.

A website called reNewport was set up for members of the public to post their own ideas which would be included in reports set to go back to Welsh Government.