NEWS that a planning application had been submitted to Newport City Council to redevelop the former HMRC tax office on Newport's Chepstow Road was one of our most talked about stories in the last week.

The applicants hope to convert the site into a 123-bedroom hotel with a gym, restaurant and bar.

Many people expressed optimism and supported the plans, but others wondered whether other kinds of development in Newport might be more necessary.

Here's what readers said on our website:

Would have been better as Flats. But I wonder where is the Customer car park going to be. What is there will maybe take 20 vehicles, its never been good for parking even when it was the Tax Office, and they'll need that space just for deliveries.

Piggysmum29

Excellent and far better than flats – which would have been crammed in and built to the lowest standards possible. 60 parking spaces is a push – but should accommodate around 40.

Severn40

Good news for a change. Let's hope our friends in the Council do not poke their nose in too much. Once they get involved, all kinds of obstacles become a barrier!!

skipbifferty

With the train station not too far away and the new exhibition centre at the other end of Chepstow Road hopefully we can have a decent quality development. But if it's going to be bottom end there's nothing wrong with knocking the whole thing down and plant some nice trees in the same footprint.

Newport Mal

Great news! Go for it!

Raybobo

123 bedroom hotel!!? Why? What on earth is here in Newport for people to want to come and stay ! There are NO Shops left.

danijan

Good news. Let's hope it has a knock on effect and improves Clarence Place which has been run down for years. Look at the state of TJ's - years after it closed down. And don't use the tired excuse of absentee landlords – "there's nothing we can do." There are surely ways and means if the council tries hard enough.

John Aldridge 8

Great news for Newport its a win win situation for everyone.

bubbles17

Excellent idea we have more than enough flats thanks, there is a shortage of accommodation in the city centre with the loss of a couple of large central hotels this will be a welcome development nice to see someone has the vision and confidence to invest in the city its location almost guarantees its success.

Port0214

ANOTHER story which attracted a lot of comments was Tuesday's news that a new supermarket, The Food Warehouse, was set to open next month on the 28 East Retail Park.

Many readers questioned whether the city really needed another supermarket, and there was some pessimism regarding the nature of the employment prospects, but one reader said the news should be welcomed.

Good stuff. Another supermarket. Even more pressure on unsustainable low profit margin and some more unskilled low wage jobs. Good news for Newport!

Newport Mal

The rate of pay is meaningless if the work is part time. One look on their website and it's all 16 hours and 7.5 hour vacancies. How is a man supposed to house and feed his family on those hours?

Baldie Lookin Chain

Another Supermarket? How many do we need ? Many people need to eat less.

Magor

Looking for "exceptional candidates" on Low pay. Good luck with that one. No doubt zero hours contracts too.

croftybaby

Someone else has got off their rears to set up a business and offer you cheaper food bills and a job. Why berate them for it? If you want a highly-paid, highly-skilled job, they are out there too. You just need to make an effort in school.

If you want long hours on top, then start your own business. All it takes is belief in yourself.

Why do so many people think their life is someone else's responsibility; and whine about our community for not doing all the hard work for them?

Gareth