ARGUSBALLS

'The Times' used to pride itself as being the newspaper of record. That is, future generations will read it and find information and events covered factually. Our local newspaper, in my view, has long since dispensed with this peculiar notion. It has self styled itself around a county that does not exist and consistently paints a bleak or uninspiring picture of our City. Hence this website. It is also prone to gaffes and other misrepresentations. This is a new collection for 2008.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 8

There was yet another reader poll where the figures did not add to 100 per cent but we will ignore that one. On Friday 'The Argus' reported that Newport bus passengers are taken a ticket to ride more often than ever. In a story on page 17 entitled 'Bus journeys in city on rise' it claims that official figures show a 30 per cent increase in bus passengers in Newport and a 285 per cent rise since 2003! This will probably have come as a surprise to Newport Transport, the city's main transport provider, who have regularly cut services in this period. However, the story is incorrect. The increase in passenger numbers relates to only one service - the X24 between Newport and Blaenavon, run by Stagecoach. (See the story on our newspage).

FRIDAY APRIL 18

Robin Davey reported a crowd for the Dragons v Connacht of 5478. Wishful thinking as it was only 3,240.

MONDAY MAY 12

The Argus a friend of Newport? No fear. Today's feature letter in the letters column slates the planned Friars Walk development as uninspiring. Probably better to stick with the old bus station and its surrounding concrete monstrosities then. Recently they featured letters prominently comparing Newport unfavourably with Cwmbran, slagging off Newport's transport changes, a returnee to Newport sounding off about how appalling it all is, letters from a former mayor of Newport who says little but is given plenty of prominence. All in all it serves to make Newportonians feel bad about themselves and appeases all the valley herberts.