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NEWS PORT NEWS IN BRIEF CITY NEWS REGULARLY UPDATED

  

WELSH LABOUR GOVERNMENT ISSUES LATEST 'ASTONISHING' SNUB TO CITY

Jan 31 - The Welsh Government has issued yet another snub to Newport. Despite powerful lobbying from politicians and economic commentators the Welsh Government has overlooked Newport's claim for an enterprise zone to revitalise Wales' gateway city. The city, already suffering adversely from the recession according to a recent study (see below), now faces a squeeze caused by business incentives in Cardiff, Ebbw Vale and in particular Bristol. Instead hapless Welsh Government minister Edwina Hart awarded enterprise zones to Gwynedd and Pembrokeshire and extended the enterprise zone in Vale of Glamorgan to include Cardiff Airport! The latter is already receiving huge public subsidies for a small plane going back and forth to Anglesey but is failing to attract new airlines to replace many lost routes over the last twelve months. Newport City Council issue a statement expressing disappointment at the decision. Swansea AM Peter Black described Hart's decision as an 'astonishing snub' to Newport and Swansea. 'Its a slap in the face for Newport, the city is under huge pressure due to enterprise zones in surrounding areas such as Hereford and Bristol, but the Minister seems to think the Council have done a good enough job."

COUNCIL LEADER EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT

Jan 31 - Matthew Evans, Newport City Council leader, expressed disappointment at the Government's decision. "The Minister and her officials must work hard to ensure Newport is not unfairly disadvantaged as it is squeezed on one side by Cardiff and Ebbw Vale and on the other by Bristol and Hereford."

CAMBRIAN CENTRE SET FOR FACELIFT

Jan 30 - Scarborough Group has announced new plans for Newport's Cambrian Centre following their recent deal with Admiral Insurance to create a landmark office building near the city's railway station. The plans are described as follows -

PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT OF CAMBRIAN CENTRE TO INCLUDE WITHIN PHASE 1 THE PARTIAL DEMOLITION AND REMODELLING OF EXISTING CAR PARK, A NEW PLAZA, ERECTION OF PROPOSED NEW OFFICE BUILDING, AND CONSTRUCTION OF AND REMODELLING OF NEW COMMERCIAL FLOORSPACE; AND WITHIN PHASE TWO POSSIBLE ERCTION OF HOTEL, WITH ADDITIONAL COMMERCIAL AND OFFICE FLOORSPACE AT QUEENSWAY/CAMBRIAN ROAD/RAILWAY STREET, NEWPORT.

NIKITTA TRIAL - WHANT WAS 'FIT AND SOBER'

Jan 26 - The grandmother of a man charged with murdering a pregnant teenager saw him looking fit, well and sober just before the victim was found, a court was told. Sandra Doreen Mole said Carl Whant came looking for cigarettes on the morning of 5 February 2011. Nikitta Grender, 19, died two weeks before she was due to give birth to a girl she had already called Kelsey-May.

At Newport Crown Court, Mr Whant denies murder, rape, arson and child destruction. The trial continues. The court heard that Ms Mole was asleep at her home in St John's Court, Oakfield Road, in Newport, when Whant arrived between 07:45 and 08:15 GMT.

NEWPORT 'HIT MOST BY RECESSION'

Jan 25 - Newport (and Swansea) are falling behind other UK cities, according to a report on economic performance. Research group Centre for Cities said areas with less dynamic private sectors would struggle to handle public sector cuts and a weak national economy.

The report warns against implementing a "one-size-fits-all" economic policy. Dr Jonathan Deacon of the Newport Business School told the BBC the city was hampered by its historical reliance on public sector employment. He called for enterprise zones to be based on regions rather than cities.

Dr Deacon told BBC Radio Wales that the city was suffering from a historical reliance on public sector employment, as the home of major UK government agencies such as the passport, statistics and patent offices. He said Newport was also being squeezed by the advantages of neighbouring cities such as Cardiff and Bristol, which were also set to benefit from the creation of enterprise zones.

"We are in Newport really sandwiched by that problem of our neighbouring cities having perhaps a more advantageous proposition than we have," he said. "We shouldn't really look at identifying cities as enterprise zones but more regions, because that makes more sense in a country the size of Wales, and a country the size of the UK."

POLICE APPEAL OVER DISORDER IN CLUB Jan 20 - Officers are appealing for information following an incident of disorder involving five men, one described as white and four described as black, in Newport that happened in the early hours of Sunday 20th November 2011. At approximately 2am there was a dispute between them inside Revolution Nightclub, Griffin Street. One man, described as white, was thrown out of the nightclub however later on, outside, a fight broke out between the same people. A pole and a glass were used as weapons. Officers are trying to identify all of those involved. The four men, described as black, all had London accents. They hadn't been seen in the nightclub before and it's believed they could have been from the London area. Enquiries undertaken at local hospitals to see if anyone was admitted with injuries in relation to this incident that night have established they weren't therefore officers are unable to confirm what injuries each of the five parties may have suffered. Anyone who recognises any of the five men from the CCTV material is asked to contact Gwent Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

ADMIRAL BOOST FOR CITY

POLICE APPEAL OVER TWO ATTACKS

Jan 7 - Police say a man is being treated in hospital after he was attacked in his own home by three men. An investigation has been launched after the incident at 00:50 GMT today in the Allt-yr-yn area of Newport but no arrests have yet been made. Police say they believe the victim was attacked with weapons including a baseball bat.

Police are appealing for information following a robbery that occurred this morning, Friday 30th December on Capel Crescent, Newport. At approximately 9.40am a man approached an 81 year old female asking for directions.  He grabbed her handbag and ran off in the direction of Alma Street. The lady, who fell over as a result of the incident, was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital with leg and head injuries. She has since been released. The offender is described as a white male, aged between 20 and 30 years old and approximately 5 feet 6 to 5 feet 8 inches tall. He was wearing a black bomber jacket, a light coloured hooded jumper with the hood up, and blue denim jeans.

Anyone with information is asked to call Gwent Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

FOOTBALL CENTRE PLANS BACKED

Jan 7 - Multi-million pound plans for a national football training centre in Newport have been recommended for approval by the city council. The Football Association of Wales wants to build a new headquarters with sports science and education facilities.

The centre would also be used to develop players from under-14 to under-21 level, and would provide a training facility for the senior Wales team. It is earmarked for the Newport International Sports Village at Spytty. The site already houses a velodrome, cricket and indoor tennis centre and is also home to Newport County FC, who play their home matches at the athletics stadium. The proposals would see the senior squad moving from their current base at the Vale of Glamorgan in Hensol to new grass and artificial pitches.

INFORMATION CENTRE OPENS

Jan 4 - Newport City Council's new information centre, the Information Station, opened to customers for the first time yesterday. This move is part of the transformation of the way in which Newport City Council and its partners deliver services to the public. The City Council states "The Information Station is an easily accessible welcoming facility that will give local people the opportunity to cover a range of services and issues all in one place." As of this week Council Tax, Benefits, Planning and Housing enquiries will be dealt with there followed by a range of services including social services and blue badges from next week. Customers will no longer be expected to traipse up to the Civic Centre to get their face to face enquiries answered, the reception desks there will close and the services and staff will be relocated to the City's former railway station building, home of the Information Station. The Information Station will be open Monday – Friday 8.30am – 5.30pm. For more information call the contact centre on 01633 656656.

KINGS HOTEL CLOSES

Jan 4 - The ravaging of Newport city centre continues. The 200-year-old Kings Hotel closed yesterday blaming a "severe" downturn in trade, with the loss of 20 permanent jobs. General manager Maria Thomas told the BBC a handful of staff remained and were trying to rearrange wedding bookings. Ms Thomas, who has worked at the hotel for 20 years, said the recession had led to a downturn in trade at the hotel on High Street. "I think all the shops closing in Newport city centre haven't helped either," she said.

The Kings was a noted music venue including performances from Van Morrison and Jerry Lee Lewis (see video link here)

CITY TO HOST NEW ENTERPRISE FOUNDATION

Jan 3 - Newport will be the HQ for the next generation of entrepreneurs as Udex House (to be renamed Alacrity House) in the heart of the city centre becomes the home of a new Alacrity Foundation Graduate Entrepreneurship programme.

The scheme has been created by Sir Terry Matthews ‘ Wesley Clover organisation in partnership with the Welsh Government, the Waterloo Foundation and a private philanthropist and will give young graduates the opportunity to develop their entrepreneurial skills. The project will provide real life experience for the graduates as they deal with product development requirements. Alacrity’s strategic partners include Vodafone, Fujitsu, BT and Mitel. During the 12 month programme, graduates will receive intensive training and mentoring from industry experts and find out what it takes to start a successful new venture.

Simon Gibson for Alacrity said: “We are delighted to be working with our partners to implement a tried and tested methodology to create a new generation of high technology companies. In Alacrity, successful participants do not exit the programme with simply a job, they create a company in which they have ownership and executive responsibilities. After thoughtful consideration, we picked Newport as a location due to its excellent road and rail links to the rest of the UK and London which are critical to our operations.”

FIRE CAUSES CELTIC MANOR EVACUATION

Jan 2 - More than 800 guests were evacuated from the Celtic Manor resort hotel in Newport after a fire during the early hours of New Year's Day. Firefighters were called to the 2010 Ryder Cup venue at 04:23 GMT on Monday.

A spokesman for the hotel said the cause of the fire was being investigated and apologised to guests who spent about 40 minutes outside. The South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said a small fire on the ninth floor was confined to a laundry room. It said nobody was injured, adding that the fire was accidental and not suspicious in any way. A spokesman for the Celtic Manor resort said: "A small fire was located and extinguished within minutes. "The cause of the fire is unknown at present time but a full investigation will take place to identify the cause.

NO PROMISES OVER NEW DUFFRYN SCHOOL - LABOUR

Dec 31 - Newport Labour Party's leader Bob Bright has refused to give a commitment to fund the building of a new comprehensive school in Duffryn. The Party had previously pledged to build it as part of a schools modernisation programme. At a recent Council meeting Councillor Bright said that a future Labour administration could not promise a new school but would seek to pay for the schools programme by way of the sale of land assets and look at the Duffryn situation at that time. 

The Leader of the Council, Matthew Evans, noted that Bright had made no positive commitment to Duffryn he said despite the financial situation the current administration had delivered the Newport High School and the Hartridge projects.

Councillor Wilcox (Labour, Gaer) expressed her dismay that the plans for the third planned secondary school for Newport was not proceeding. She invited the Leader of the Council to visit Duffryn High School to look at the conditions that pupils and staff are working in at Duffryn High School. The Leader of the Council said that the problem had been that the previous administration had put no money aside for the schools building programme which was based on asset sales that did not transpire. He was not, therefore in a position to make any promises, particularly as the Council would now need to contribute more to any scheme than in the past.

EVANS SLATES NEGATIVE ATTITUDE OF OPPOSITION COUNCILLORS

Dec 31 - Council leader Matthew Evans has slated opposition councillors for their negative criticism of City Council initiatives to improve the City Centre. At a recent Council meeting Labour Councillors Whiticutt and Richards queried the value of the Council's free car parking initiative in a clear inference that charges will return if Labour are back in power after the local elections in May.

Councillor Richards referred to the investment of about £1m on free parking and other initiatives and said that that there was a need for accurate data to judge whether the investment had been a success. Councillor Evans said he was disappointed with the negative attitude of the Opposition Group who had put up car parking charges, introduced bus lanes and encouraged shopping out of town when they were in power.

MP CRITICISES TOLLS INCREASE

Dec 31 - Jessica Morden, Newport East MP, has criticised new Severn Bridge toll fees effective from 1st January. She said “The last thing families and businesses in Newport and Monmouthshire need is another rise in the bridge tolls. I know local hauliers are under tremendous financial strain, as are commuters who are being hammered from every angle. Fuel is expensive, the bridge toll looks set to go up and train fares, if people are looking to avoid the other two increases, are also going up by RPI plus another 3%. The tolls should be frozen to ease the burden on local families and businesses.”

INVESTIGATION FOLLOWING HOUSE FIRE DEATH Dec 29 - A man has died in a house fire in Newport, say Police. Fire crews and police were called to a three-storey terraced property in Tewkesbury Walk (denoted by A on the map) close to the city centre at about 11:40 GMT on Wednesday. The blaze was out on their arrival but the man's body was found in a back bedroom. Fire investigators and scenes of crimes officers are looking into the cause of the blaze, but the death is not being treated as suspicious. A post mortem examination and formal identification is due to take place on Thursday.

Bartolotti waving the flag of the expansionist Syrian Social Nationalist Party Bartolotti pictured with Mahmoud al Zahar. He stated Israel has "legitimised the murder of their own children by killing the children of Palestine."

BARTOLOTTI BECOMES GREEN LEADER Dec 28 - Pippa Bartolotti has been elected as Wales Green Party's new leader. Living in Malpas, she is well known as a hard-working campaigner against the Newport Incinerator. She said: "I am proud and indeed humbled to be leading Wales Green Party at a time when our message of solving economic and environmental challenges together is desperately needed. Our membership has nearly doubled in the last 2 years, and our voice is getting stronger." In the 2010 General Election she secured 450 votes in Newport West a fall of 0.4 per cent in the Green vote. On the radical Wales website her personal biog states..."Born in 1953, I am a daughter of Cornwall. My youth held the privilege of the sea, the sun and the rolling hills of childhood freedom. A budding pianist, a misfit at school, I blossomed at art college and was propelled to the heady heights of fashion design where perhaps my greatest achievement was to discover, one morning, that my designs graced the windows of every shop window in Oxford Street....Disillusioned with the slow pace and chronic wastage in civil service, I took early retirement to explore the world I did not know. I have lived in Cuba, backpacked round India, and driven a convoy of humanitarian aid across Europe to Gaza . In Syria, though I bear no arms, they call me Mujahadeen.....My life as a human rights campaigner has always run in parallel to my professional work and love of motherhood. From early days as a Samaritan, to schools speaker for Amnesty International I have never stopped campaigning for the rights of the voiceless. In July 2011, whilst attempting to enter Bethlehem and visit Palestinians living on the West Bank, I was arrested by Israeli security and imprisoned in Givon jail, Ramla." She courted controversy in the summer of 2011 as part of the 'flytilla' an organised campaign of western Palestinian sympathisers aimed at visiting families in the Gaza area. This followed a decision by the Greek authorities to block the sailing of an aid flotilla trying to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza. She was arrested by Israeli authorities as she headed for Bethlehem and deported back home. She recently became embroiled in another controversy when she inferred that the British Ambassador to Israel was not loyal to the UK (see story immediately below) "I questioned the wisdom of having a Jewish Zionist ambassador in Israel and stated that their loyalty was a matter for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to investigate....The Vice -Consul was called Levi. From the university of life I have learned that Jews often have a conflict of interest in matters relating to Palestine. "That does not make them bad people (we all experience some form of bias)." The Green Party issued an apology stating ""Pippa Bartolotti has apologised for any offence which her comments may have inadvertently caused. Needless to say, the Green Party does not condone antisemitism in any form, and we regret if any other impression were given on this occasion."

FLYNN APOLOGISES TO JEWISH CHRONICLE

Dec 27 - Paul Flynn MP has apologised to the Jewish Chronicle for remarks potentially questioning the loyalty of the British Ambassador to Israel. The Newport West MP stated "I greatly regret the interpretation that has been placed on them and I fully understand why offence was given. Some of the interpretations of these words were exaggerated suggesting malign intent that was never present or intended."

Mr Flynn had told the Commons Public Administration Select Committee of his concerns that Matthew Gould, who took up the post last year, "has proclaimed himself to be a Zionist". Challenged by the Jewish Chronicle to explain his remarks, Mr Flynn claimed that previous ambassadors to Israel had not been Jewish "to avoid the accusation that they have gone native". Mr Flynn said his statement had been motivated by a desire to alert people to the danger of being drawn into a war in Iran.

CITY COUNCIL APPROVES £180K TO RESTORE ODEON CINEMA

Dec 26 - Newport City Council has approved a massive £180,000 grant towards the £360,000 works planned to restore the Odeon Cinema building in Clarence Place. The former cinema is a Grade II listed Art Deco building located on the corner of Clarence Place and East Usk Road – a key gateway into the city centre. It is a rare surviving example in Wales of a cinema whose exterior preserves the distinctive architectural vocabulary of the 1930s Odeon style. The Odeon’s current run-down state is preventing the opportunity of maximizing the potential beneficial use of the building. The external restoration works will enable the tenant to proceed with the internal refurbishment of turning the Odeon cinema into a Cinematic museum with community use.

The applicant (Richard Hayward Properties) seeks to retain and reintroduce historic features and details of the street façade in order to maintain and enhance the character of the original building. The proposed works will have a positive effect on the building and its use, as well as the surrounding areas. Together with the aesthetic benefits of the repairs, the works will protect the building from the elements and extend the buildings life for the future. The intention is to restore its original appearance of 1938 and preserve its historic details and features.

The report states "The applicant has agreed a long term lease with Kinetechnik Ltd who will be using the main part of the building as an exhibition hall/working museum for cinematic equipment and memorabilia. The wider community uses for the building will also include the main auditorium area being used for live community performances and a projection room to show educational and commercial films. The existing cafe/restaurant will be enhanced as part of this wider work and as well as supporting all activities in the building will trade for normal commercial opening hours and take passing trade. Provision of facilities for education and training in cinema and media also forms part of the wider scheme to make use of this key building."

Councillor Charles Ferris stated "I wholly support the initiative, it is a poor reflection on our city to see the progressive decline of this beautiful building. Ours is the only "corner" Odeon that has not been split into multiple auditoriums in the country. In Sutton Coalfield there is a beautiful Odeon which is the centrepiece of its revitalised high street. Refurbishment of this building will compliment the refurbished Technical College and lift the air of dereliction that hangs over Clarence Place."

STUDY SHOWS COMMUTERS MAKE UP A MAJOR PART OF CITY WORKFORCE

Dec 22 - A recent Welsh Government study shows of Newport’s daily workforce of 68,000, 28,600 commute in from outside of the City, meaning that, at 42%, more of its workforce was made up of commuters than any other Welsh local authority area. Of Wales’ 1.3 million workforce, 81,300 go to work in England every day, with 1.29 million working in Wales. The data also revealed Welsh commuters spend on average 22 minutes travelling into work, with the longest in Rhondda Cynon Taf at 26 minutes and the shortest in Gwynedd, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire at 18 minutes.

SHOPPING CENTRE APPLICATION IN

Dec 19 - The new Friars Walk development proposed by Queensberry is a much scaled down project compared to the failed Modus proposal but still promises to revitalise the City Centre. According to the application submitted to the Council it will include:

• Demolition of the existing buildings within the site;

• Development of 31,147 square metres of A1 retail floorspace (to include a new anchor department store - Debenhams - on three levels at the northern end of the site and a food store of 2,091sqm at the southern end of the site);

• A six screen cinema (2,320 sqm);

• Provision of eight family restaurants and cafes (3,440 sqm );

• An extension to the existing Potters Pub (142 sqm) to replace the current garden/rear extension which lies within the application site;

• Provision of a new (replacement) bus station comprising 15 stands to accommodate all current services;

• Provision of up to 360 car parking spaces in an under croft, accessed directly off Kingsway;

• New public open space (including the remodelling of John Frost Square, and creation of Usk Plaza, to connect the City Centre/Commercial Street with the river front);

• Provision of 70 on site cycle parking stands;

The retail assessment report states "The proposed marketing will seek to attract names of the calibre of Super Dry, Oasis, Fat Face, Apple, Forever 21, and Hotel Chocolat. In additional to the national comparison brands, there would also be a need for a quality in town supermarket"

HOLIDAY BUS SERVICES, FREE BUSES ON CHRISTMAS EVE

Dec 15 - Newport Bus will be operating the following festive timetable for Christmas and New Year 2011:

Christmas Eve - Normal services ceasing at 8pm
Christmas Day - No service
Boxing Day - No service
December 27 to December 20 - Saturday service
New Year's Eve - Normal service ceasing at 8pm
New Year's Day - No service
January 2 - Sunday service

Newport Bus is making all of its buses free to travel on during Christmas Eve!

Everyone of the bus operator's services will be free to use as often as customers want including buses in Newport and to and from Cardiff, Chepstow, Cwmbran and Monmouth. And if that wasn't enough it will also be launching a new City Circular service on December 13, which will be free to use until February 2012. Scott Pearson, Managing Director of Newport Transport, which runs Newport Bus, said: “During 2011 more and more people have been using Newport Bus to get them to their chosen destinations in comfort and on time. We wanted to say thank you to these people and give something back to the City at the same time."

LES KNIGHT PASSES AWAY

Dec 14 - Long standing Newport Conservative Councillor Les Knight has passed away. The Allt-yr-yn member served on the Council for 42 years, first elected in 1964, losing his seat between 1994 and 1999.

COUNCIL CLAIMS FOOTFALL INCREASE

Dec 14 - Footfall and car park figures for the second half of the year show a steady increase in the number of visitors to the city centre compared with last year. While the footfall numbers in the first six months showed a drop in visitors compared to the same period in 2010, the latest statistics show a gradual increase. In August, the average footfall was 179,340 – 12,022 more than the same month in 2010; in September it was 176,772 (164,476 in 2010) and rose to 181,358 in October (155,691 in 2010). Meanwhile, the number of vehicles using council-owned car parks has also risen considerably following the introduction of the two hour free parking offer. In October, 72,029 vehicles were recorded compared with 56,064 for the same month the previous year and in November the car parks were used by 71.108 vehicles compared to 49,471 in 2010. Councillor Matthew Evans, leader of Newport City Council, said: “These figures are encouraging and are evidence that the council’s initiatives in the city centre, such as free parking, appear to be paying off. “The reintroduction of buses into High Street is also helping to revitalise that part of the city. Future plans include the exciting Friars Walk shopping and leisure scheme and the planning application is due to decided in the spring. “Next year, the historic Indoor Market is having a major facelift as part of our vision of a market quarter which will include the surrounding shopping area."

Unfortunately, in the same period major retailers Burton and Next have closed their stores in the City with doubts over the future of Top Shop and H&M. Marks and Spencer are set to move in 2012 or 2013.

NEW BUS SERVICES

Dec 5 - The new City Circular service (services 4 and 5) will be launched on Monday. Service 4 will go via Stow Hill and Queensway and Service 5 via Belle Vue Lane and Cardiff Road.

A new express bus service linking Monmouth to Newport will be launched on December 5 by Newport Bus. The X25 service, which will stop at Raglan and Usk, is the first express bus service of its kind in the area and will give commuters living in the three towns a viable opportunity to switch to public transport to get to and from work. As well as stopping at Newport Bus Station the service will also call at Newport Train Station. It is estimated that currently motorists using their cars to commute between Monmouth and Newport spend up to £2,500 a year on fuel. Switching to the X25 service could save them as much as £1,100 a year.

Fares for the service start from just £3, with weekly and monthly passes also giving bus users unlimited travel on all of Newport Transport’s other services – including buses to Cardiff and Cwmbran. All X25 buses will feature air conditioning, complimentary newspapers, CCTV, low-level flooring and dedicated drivers. Concessionary pass holders will be able to use the bus service for free with a valid pass. The introduction of the service has been supported by a public consultation led by local MP David Davies who described its launch as good news for people living in the area. He said: “The new X25 service is wonderful news for Monmouth, Raglan and Usk and the feedback I have received from commuters, shoppers and local residents suggests it will be well supported. “I am extremely grateful to Newport Transport for launching the route and I hope people who travel regularly to Newport will give it a try.'

Newport Bus also now run service 73 from the City to Chepstow and service 62 and 63 to Llanwern, Redwick, Magor and Caldicot.

NEW RAIL BUS LINK BUT STILL NO EBBW RAIL SERVICE!

Nov 6 - The Welsh Government shows no sign of getting off a very uncomfortable fence to make a decision about the Newport-Ebbw Vale rail line. They are happy to massively subsidise a pointless air service to Anglesey but not to invest in passenger transport in the Newport area.

Therefore a subsidised 'express' bus linking the Ebbw Vale to Cardiff rail line with Newport is being re-introduced three years after a previous service ended. It will connect with trains at Rogerstone and run every hour. The Welsh government, which will initially fund the bus for a year, said it was the first step in improving transport links between the two localities. A previous bus service over a much longer route was scrapped in 2008 because of a lack of passengers. Local Government Minister Carl Sargeant said the new bus service would be piloted for a year.

70 JOBS GO AT LLANWERN

Nov 5 - Tata Steel is cutting 70 jobs at its Llanwern site in Newport. The company said it decided "with great regret" to close the Tata Steel Construction Products (TCSP) business amid the economic downturn.

The union Community said it was another case of a good business closing because of the desperate state of the economy. The molten steel production section at Llanwern closed with the loss of 1,300 jobs in July 2001. Tata employs about 7,500 staff in Wales, with about 1,400 at Llanwern.

FREAK STORM CAUSES FLOODING AND CALLS OFF BIG MATCH Nov 4 - Torrential rain has forced the cancellation of a big rugby derby and caused homes to flood in Newport. Ground staff at Rodney Parade swept flood water off the pitch but the match between the Newport Gwent Dragons and the Cardiff Blues could not be saved. The ground was caught in downpours that left fire crews in the city dealing with callout in Maindee from 16:30 GMT onwards. South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said it took 18 flooding calls in the Maindee area of Newport in just one hour. Wharf Road was closed causing long tailbacks in to the city centre. Fire-fighters later went to Mill Parade, Pill, where they began pumping out water from the basements of six properties. The heavy rain also led St Cadoc's Hospital in Caerleon to call in firefighters to pump water from a ward, although no patients had to be moved.

BETTWS MEETING OPPOSES TRAVELLERS SITE Oct 30 - It's reported that there were angry scenes at a meeting on Thursday where local council officials met with residents from Bettws to present options for a traveller site in Newport. The City Council has identified five potential sites (three in Nash, one in Marshfield and Yew Tree Lane in Bettws - see map left). Residents voiced opposition to the idea of a site in Bettws. The City Council is seeking to resolve the problems caused by the illegal occupation of sites throughout Newport including Tredegar House. It believes a suitable location can be found but there is every indication that there will be strong opposition to their proposals in the areas identified. http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/say-no-to-a-gypsy-camp-site-at-bettws.html

CITY 'MOST AFFORDABLE FOR RENT'

Oct 25 - Newport has been named the UK's most affordable rental location while Poole is the least. The figures, compiled by flat sharing website easyroommate.co.uk, compare average rents with take-home pay data. According to research, the typical room rent is £365 per calendar month, comprising 21.9 per cent of the average UK net monthly income of £1,665. Rents in Newport stand at just £280, £85 cheaper than the national average, costing just over 18 per cent of monthly take-home pay. But flat-sharers in Poole, Dorset, face forking out £398 every month, representing 26.8 per cent of their salaries. The survey, which used Office for National Statistics data and 15,000 room adverts listed on the easyroommate website, found that flat share rents are rising at nearly 5% per year. This compared with annual pay growth of 2.8%, meaning flat sharers face spending 22.9% of their take home wage on rents next year.

MAN TRAPPED BY ENTRANCE GATE DIES

Oct 25 - A 42-year-old man from Merthyr Tydfil has died after an incident in Newport in which he is thought to have been trapped by a gate. He died in Agincourt Street during a delivery to a firm which involved "the movement of heavy gates", police said.

Wholesalers Blakemore said it was helping in the investigation. The Health and Safety Executive is investigating. Emergency crews were called at 05:00 BST. The trade entrance to the wholesalers is through a metal gate which on Wednesday was lying on the floor.

LOTTERY AD CALLS FOR WINNER TO COME FORWARD

Oct 25 - Lottery operator Camelot has advertised on the recruitment pages of a south Wales newspaper in a bid to trace a £612,000 jackpot winner. The ticket was bought in the Newport area in August but the prize was never claimed. The advertisement in the South Wales Argus reads: "Lottery Jackpot Winner Wanted. No previous experience necessary. One-Off Salary: £612,749." A National Lottery spokesman urged people to check their tickets again. The advertisement continued: "The successful candidate must be committed to enjoying life-changing win.

LOCAL HERO TO TURN ON CITY LIGHTS

Oct 24 - Local hero and world record holder, Richard Parks will join Newport’s Mayor, Councillor Margaret Cornelious, to officially switch on Newport’s Christmas lights on Sunday 20 November on High Street. To tie in with Sunday shopping, there will be street entertainment throughout Commercial Street and along High Street with performers on the main stage from 2pm. The city’s streets will have a Victorian themed series of performers and displays including a Victorian escapologist, sideshows, stilt walkers and even a magical storytelling tent for young children.

HOUSING GROUP TAKES OVER DAY CENTRE SITE

Oct 22 - Work to clear the site of the former Ladyhill Centre in Alway, Newport, has started and is expected to be completed before Christmas. Newport City Council has disposed of its ownership of the land to the Seren Group, an organisation that provides housing and support to people in Newport and across South Wales. Preparation work began this week prior to demolition which is expected to take place from early November.

The Seren Group is working closely with the city council to agree proposals for redeveloping the site. After the building has been pulled down the land will be securely fenced. Neil Barber, assistant director within the Seren Group, said: “We clearly recognise the importance of this site within Alway. “We want to build upon the good work that the council and the community have undertaken in recent years and we look forward to fully consulting on the proposals in due course.”

TENDERS INVITED FOR NEW CITY MUSEUM

Oct 15 - Newport City Council has put out a tender to find a location to display and interpret the medieval ship discovered on the banks of the River Usk in 2002 as part of a brand new museum for the city. According to the council, the existing Museum and Art Gallery is housed in a building that “can at best be described as challenging and does not provide enough space to adequately display its collections”.

As a result, it is seeking a developer that will explore options for a new museum that will house this 15th century trading vessel, the most important archaeological find in Wales of recent times, as well as the existing museum’s extensive collection. In its tender document, the council said the new museum should promote and display the ship as a key exhibit; however, the focus should not be on maritime activity alone. Instead the find should be used to interpret the River Usk’s seminal importance to the development of Newport, but also to tell this story within a wider social context, drawing in the important archaeological and social history elements that await to be fully exploited.

A council spokeswoman said: "It could provide an excellent opportunity to tell the story of medieval Newport and its history as an international maritime town long before its development as an industrial port. Finding a suitable location is a complex matter and any recommendations will be thoroughly scrutinised by officers and members before proceeding further following this initial exploratory stage.” Since the discovery of the ship, steady progress has been made to record all 1,700 timbers. The ship was excavated by a team of archaeologists and lifted from the ground timber by timber. Conservation of the waterlogged timber is now under way and is expected be completed in 2014. Ideally the new building should be available to receive the timbers after the completion date. The deadline for submission of bids is 19 October 2011.

COUNCIL SPENDS £6 MILLION PLUS ON REDUNDANCIES

Oct 13 - BBC figures have revealed that Newport City Council has spent over £6.5 million on redundancy payments for staff in the last three years.

NO PLAN FOR BY-ELECTION

Oct 12 - Despite the vacancy caused by the death of Labour Councillor Ken Powell it is unlikely that a by-election will be called in the Alway ward. New Council elections will take place in May next year.

PRAISE FOR CITY LIBRARIES

Oct 11 - Newport’s library service is among the strongest performing in Wales for the ninth year running. For the first time since the Welsh Government introduced the Welsh Public Library Standards in 2002, the city has achieved all 14 of the expected standards.

“I am immensely proud of our libraries and the committed staff who work so hard and I’m pleased that this report formally recognises that they are delivering a first class service,” said Councillor Mike Hamilton, cabinet member for leisure and culture. “We are still facing difficult financial challenges but so far we have maintained our library service for Newport, indeed we have enhanced it. Newport now has libraries in 13 locations including two added during the present administration. I would encourage residents who may not have visited a library for a while to have a look at what is on offer. As well as a wide selection of books, they offer a wide range of resources as such as free computer access and information services.”

SUPERMARKET/PLANNING UPDATE

Oct 10 - Newport's two newest supermarkets are set to open in the near future. Morrisons will open their Lliswerry store on Monday October 17. Tesco will open their new Extra store in Newport Retail Park on Monday October 24.

Plans have been submitted for the works relating to  the Magistrates Court building to be erected near George Street Bridge. The three-storey building will include four courts, a roof-space, internal courtyard and provision for cells. Council planners will also consider more details of the proposed Premier Hotel set for the former Westgate Hotel building on High Street.

LABOUR TARGETS NEWPORT

Oct 8 - Shadow Welsh Secretary Peter Hain has called on Labour to focus on the fight against the Liberal Democrats in Wales and in particular in Council elections in seven areas including Newport in 2012.  Hain has told a conference of party activists in Cardiff “Next year we have seven councils that we will be targeting to take control – Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Conwy, Flintshire, Newport, Swansea and Wrexham. In those councils we lost 177 seats over the same period: in Cardiff we lost 42 councillors, down from 55 to just 13. In Wrexham we’ve lost 22 seats and in Newport 27." Current composition of Newport City Council - 21 Labour, 18 Conservative, 9 Liberal Democrats and 2 Independents.

CARNEGIE LIBRARY TO SHUT FOR UPGRADE

Oct 8 - The Carnegie Library on Corporation Road will close for a temporary period to allow for an upgrade between 7 November to 5 December. The Council states "The interior decoration of Carnegie Library, both the main public and small staff areas is in severe need of repair due to internal cracking and redecoration throughout. Carnegie contains an area previously occupied by the housebound library service and the service will take this opportunity to re-configure the building to increase the library space and provide an area which can be used for provision of community learning courses and as a meeting room."

A Carnegie library is a library built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929, including some belonging to public and university library systems. 1,689 were built in the United States, 660 in Britain and Ireland, 125 in Canada, and others in Australia, New Zealand, Serbia, the Caribbean, and Fiji.

JOB TO GO AT THE ARGUS

Oct 6 - The owners of the Newport-based newspaper the South Wales Argus have confirmed that jobs are at risk due to a proposed restructuring. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has claimed that five editorial posts are to go and offices in Chepstow and Pontypool are to close.

Parent company Newsquest is one of the largest regional publishers in the UK. Kevin Ward, of Newsquest East Wales and Gloucestershire, says the company is in consultation with affected staff. The NUJ claimed the losses included one sub-editor, a reporter, a photographer and an editorial assistant. The union said a vacant sub-editing post would also remain unfilled. Mr Ward confirmed that the company had proposed restructuring in editorial and advertising departments.

"Unfortunately these proposals have placed a number of jobs at risk," said Mr Ward. Michelle Stanistreet, the NUJ's general secretary, claimed the company was trying to boost profits for shareholders. "The announcement of job cuts and office closures in Wales is a direct attack on our members and quality journalism," she said. Newsquest, which has 5,000 employees in the UK, is in turn owned by American media group Gannett, which publishes 85 daily newspapers and owns 23 TV stations in the US.

EARLY LEARNING STORE JOINS UP WITH MOTHERCARE

Oct 6 - Every standalone Early Learning Centre will disappear after its parent company confirmed that only stores within Mothercare outlets will remain. The announcement from Mothercare – ELC’s parent company – confirmed the closure of its Cardiff city centre store last night, with stores in Swansea, Newport and Cwmbran already closed. Eight staff have been affected by the Newport closure on October 1, while it is believed that 13 staff face uncertain futures at the Cardiff store. Staff numbers affected by other closures are not yet known. Two dual Mothercare and ELC stores will remain in Cardiff, and one in Newport. A spokeswoman for Mothercare said that the closures were “in line with its current portfolio plans” for its stores.

CITY CENTRE SCHEME MOVES FORWARD

Oct 5 - Newport City Council and Queensberry have completed and exchanged the development agreement for the proposed retail, food and leisure scheme for the John Frost Square area. With this key legal stage successfully delivered, the council’s development partner can now drive the project forward and it is expected that a detailed planning application will be submitted later this year.

“The council and Queensberry have completed the development agreement more quickly than expected which means the scheme is now ahead of schedule and that is excellent news for Newport,” said Councillor Matthew Evans, leader of Newport City Council. “It usually takes many years to get a new retail scheme in place but all involved with this project have acted with urgency as we know how vital it is for the city, its businesses and its residents. We are another step closer to seeing our vision for the city centre becoming a reality. I would like to thank all those who have worked so hard to get us to this important stage so promptly.”

Paul Sargent, Queensberry’s managing director, said: “We were extremely impressed at the council’s ‘can do’ approach to this scheme which has allowed us to negotiate a complex suite of documents in record timing. Having a solid, workable development agreement as a backdrop to this important project can only help to speed up the overall development programme bringing greater benefits to all involved. With the development agreement behind us, the next steps are securing a suitable anchor and progressing leasing contracts, submitting a planning consent by year end and looking towards negotiations with funders in the new year.Everything still points to a start on site in 2013.”

CITY UNI RESPONDS TO WELSH GOVERNMENT RETHINK CALL

Oct 2 - The University of Wales, Newport has today responded to the consultation on the Future Structure of Higher Education in Wales, currently being undertaken by the Welsh Government.

Following an extensive consultation process with staff, students and stakeholders, the University has proposed the creation of a genuinely new university in South East Wales, but only if it further strengthens Newport’s mission to widen access, promote social justice and drive economic regeneration.

The University has made clear that it would not countenance any structure which would weaken this, or damage the role that Higher Education plays within the region. Newport contributes over £100m per year into the regional economy and is one of Wales’ most successful universities at opening up education to people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Over half of Newport’s 9500 students come from within the Gwent region. The University’s strong links with Further Education Colleges, local authorities and the extra emphasis placed upon delivering services for local businesses have made it an integral part in efforts being made to improve opportunities for the communities of Gwent.

The new institution would allow the sharing of expertise and resources across all its constituent parts through the use of enhanced technology and online learning. A larger institution would also open up new opportunities to collaborate with businesses, increase international collaboration and focus on providing essential skills for the Welsh economy. Dr Peter Noyes, Vice Chancellor of the University of Wales, Newport said: “We have a once in a lifetime opportunity with the reconfiguration of Higher Education in Wales, and that is why it is so important that we get it right."

WELSH GOVERNMENT SLUMBERS OVER EBBW VALE DECISION

Oct 1 - A new report from the Department for Transport has indicated that passenger numbers on the Ebbw Vale to Cardiff line are over-subscribed by 450 per cent compared to original estimates. The report underlines the benefits being missed out on by Newport, the original destination for the service.

The Welsh Government, which funded the Ebbw Vale rail project, said it was generally accepted that actual passenger demand significantly exceeded the forecasts.“The current issue being considered is the commitment to feasibility work on Ebbw Vale-Newport services,” said a spokesman.

CITY DEVELOPMENTS

Oct 1 - Work has started on the major refurbishment of the iconic Lysaghts Institute in Lliswerry adjacent to the new Morrison Store. The institute will become a community facility. The development is part of a project funded by Linc Cymru and Morrisons.

The City Council has set aside £4.2 million for a new bus station as part of the proposed city centre development. Councillor Bill Langsford queried developer Queensberry's withdrawal from a scheme in Wolverhampton at a recent Council meeting but was advised this a land dispute and nothing to do with the developer.

Costa Coffee's plan to redevelop the former Barclays Bank building on Commercial Street has been referred to CADW by the City Council. High street fashion retailer Pilot has opened a new store in the former Monsoon premises. Early Learning Store is to close this week joining Next and Burton on the list of store closures in the city centre.

A number of retailers are in discussions with the Kingsway Shopping Centre about opening new units in their development but other than the opening of an Art Depot there is no news to report.

Construction is underway at Glan Llyn, site of the new eastern suburb. Supermarket retailer Lidl is to open a new store in Maesglas at the 28East Retail Park.

GUNMAN'S SON FOUND DEAD

Sep 28 - A teenager has been found dead in woods almost six weeks after his father shot his mother in a hair salon.The body of Jack Williams, 16, was discovered in Newport after he was reported missing on Monday.

His father, Darren Williams, had also been found dead in woodland as police searched for him after he shot his estranged wife in August.Jack's mother Rachel, 39, who recently left hospital, was said to be devastated by her son's death. A family spokesman said Jack found it hard to come to terms with the events. Jack, a former pupil at Newport High School, had been staying with his father's sister while his mother was in hospital. She came out of hospital at the weekend and Jack was reported missing on Monday evening. Police later discovered Jack's body.

CALL FOR DIGITAL ENTERPRISE ZONE

Sep 28 - Monmouthshire Council Cabinet Member Bob Greenland has told Wales Online there should be a digital enterprise zone covering Newport, Monmouthshire and Torfaen.

“Monmouthshire and neighbouring authorities in Torfaen and Newport can offer a lot to such businesses through their strong broadband infrastructure and proximity to the digital and creative expertise provided by the University of Wales, Newport. Moreover these areas offer excellent and very convenient transport links to other parts of the UK and here in Monmouthshire we can boast a genuine spirit of enterprise among local people which is being nurtured by our groundbreaking Enterprise Partnership, forged between the council and Wales’ largest business support agency, Venture Wales.”

NEW CHAIRMAN FOR NEWPORT UNLIMITED

Sep 26 - South East Wales’ business entrepreneurs have a vital role to play as ambassadors for the future of Newport, according to leading businessman Bill Mayne, the new chairman of Newport Unlimited. Mr Mayne, who has just been appointed to lead the board of the urban regeneration company, said: “We believe that successful local businesses can play a much bigger role in the development of the City.

“We have some great entrepreneurs in the Region whose support and advice could be invaluable. It’s critical we make it easy to do business here. This is a great place, and we have a talented team here at Newport Unlimited with a “can-do” attitude and we want to get that message out across the UK and internationally. Our business community are our best ambassadors.” As chief executive of MSS Group, a leading provider of support services and environmental consultancy, he brings a wide breadth of private sector experience to Newport Unlimited. He takes over from Grant Watson, chief executive of Alder King, who was Chairman of Newport Unlimited since 2004, and a guiding force in the delivery of major projects in the city. The city centre is top of the list of priorities, according to Mr Mayne. He said: “There has been some outstanding regeneration in the city but it is so important that we focus on the centre to improve the look and feel of Newport.”

CITY PREPARES FOR CARRIER BAG CHARGE

Sep 25 - Newport City Council is helping shoppers to prepare for the introduction of carrier bag charges which take effect in Wales from 1 October. On 29 September from 10am, the council will be giving away reusable cotton bags upstairs in the Newport Indoor Market to the first 200 customers. Shoppers can then take these reusable bags with them when they go shopping and avoid paying a charge for a singe use carrier bag.

Waste Awareness Wales is supporting the introduction of the charge and its recycling officer Andrew Osborne said: "More than eight out of ten carrier bags are disposed of in landfill; many more end up as rubbish. We simply cannot continue wasting our valuable resources in this way.

CARDIFF WOMAN ARRESTED AFTER SUSPICIOUS FIRE

Sep 25 - Gwent Police is appealing for information and witnesses following a fire at Lighthouse Park, Wentlooge, Newport on Saturday 24th September. A static residential caravan and a shed were found alight at approximately 7.25pm. The fire is thought to have started some time between 6.50pm and 9pm. Officers are treating it as deliberately set.

A 37 year old woman from the Cardiff area has been arrested on suspicion of arson and has been released on police bail pending further enquiries. A black Volkswagen Golf car was reportedly seen in the area of Lighthouse Park between 6.45pm and 7.30pm and officers ask that anybody who saw the vehicle or anyone with information about the incident contacts them on 101 or calls Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

BATH FURY AT 'PANTS' DECISION

Sep 25 - A football chairwoman said a referee making two teenagers change their underwear by the pitch during an FA Youth Cup match was "inappropriate". The two Bath City youth players were asked to change by the referee because the colour of their underwear did not match the rest of their kit. While they were changing, opponents Newport County scored and Bath's manager Billy Clark was sent off. Chair Manda Rigby said the boys should not have to change in front of a crowd. Fifa rules state undershorts must match the colour of the rest of the kit.Bath eventually lost the game 6-0, accruing six red cards, including for the manager and a substitute.

WELSH GOVERNMENT SLATED BY COUNCIL LEADER

Sep 20 - As Newport's Labour leaders and MP's remained silent it was left to the City's Conservative leader to slate the Welsh Government following its rejection of Newport's claim to an enterprise zone. Matthew Evans said he was bitterly disappointed and angry at the Government's decision to reward Ebbw Vale and Cardiff at the City's expense. He urged Edwina Hart to consider the City for a sixth enterprise zone based around digital services. He said: "The city will now be 'squeezed' by Bristol and Hereford on one side and Cardiff and Ebbw Vale on the other making it even more difficult for Newport, which is just as seriously affected by the global recession, in facing the on-going economic challenges."

Enterprise zones in Wales

• Anglesey: Energy
• Cardiff Central: Financial services
• Deeside: Advanced manufacturing
• Ebbw Vale: Automotive
• St Athan: Aerospace

NEWPORT IGNORED BY WELSH GOVERNMENT

Sep 19 - Newport has once again been ignored by the Labour administration in Wales as it announced today the creation of five enterprise zones. Bizarrely, Cardiff has gained a zone despite the fact the Welsh capital has benefitted significantly from huge public sector support. An area alongside Bristol Temple Meads railway station has been named by the UK Government as a local enterprise zone. The new zone, covering 70 hectares, will offer reduced business rates and simplified planning rules.

Welsh ministers had been urged to act after 21 enterprise zones were announced across England. The five new zones will be at Anglesey, Ebbw Vale, Deeside, St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan, and Cardiff. Companies investing in the sites will receive rate relief and may benefit from tax breaks to expand. The Welsh Government said its plans were in the early stages and no final decision had been made on whether to relax planning rules. There had been hopes Jaguar Land Rover would site its new engine plant, which it expected to create 750 jobs. But the company, which also considered India, said a £355m factory in Wolverhampton would be closer to its other plants.

YATES LODGE TO BECOME PREMIER INN HOTEL

Sep 18 - The former Tredegar Arms Hotel is set to be revived as a Premier Inn Hotel in a proposed redevelopment by Richard Hayward properties of the site on 55-56 High Street. This development seeks to refurbish and convert the previous Yates’s building to provide new hotel accommodation on the upper floors while retaining existing A3 use on the ground floor. The new hotel will also offer street level Restaurant and Business Lounge. The existing building is a Grade II listed building which was developed as the former Tredegar Arms Hotel and Lloyd’s Bank in 1926. This application is submitted in conjunction with a Listed Building Application to facilitate restoration of this historically important building.

MEN QUESTIONED OVER ANOTHER POSSIBLE MURDER

Sep 18 - Police investigating the death of a 22-year-old man in Newport have questioned four men on suspicion of murder. The man was found on Bedford Road in the city centre on Friday and his death is being treated suspicious. Officers arrested four men, aged 19, 29, 36 and 41, but they have since been released on police bail.Gwent Police said officers are continuing to make inquiries to establish the circumstances surrounding the death.

TJ's COULD BECOME 'EATERY'

Sep 18 - Newport's iconic TJ's rock venue sold for £242k at auction on Friday. Cardiff man Ozzeer Hassan, 23, bought the Clarence Place property He said he was buying it along with his father Mehmood and told the Argus he plans to turn the property into an eatery with a residential space upstairs.

PICKLES TO VISIT INFORMATION STATION

Sep 18 - The Rt Hon Eric Pickles, secretary of state for communities and local government, made an official visit to Newport’s new Information Station on Thursday. Newport City Council on behalf of One Newport (Newport’s Local Service Board) is driving forward an innovative project to bring together a range of council services alongside partner organisations such as health, the police, Citizens Advice, housing, Job Centre Plus, Community Development and the university under one roof.

The centre will be situated in the former railway station building in the heart of the city and called the Information Station. Leader of Newport City Council, Councillor Matthew Evans, said: “The new facility at Newport’s old railway station will see a marked improvement in service delivery and the project aims to place the citizen at the centre. We aim to reduce the ‘run-around’ often experienced by the public when trying to access public services face to face. “Newport is pioneering this collaborative approach to face to face contact with the public across a broad range of public services. We were delighted that the Rt Hon Eric Pickles was able to visit the facility and see first hand what Newport will be launching very soon.” The new centre will create an easily accessible, welcoming facility that will give local people the opportunity to cover a range of queries and issues all in one place. Organisations will share resources and appropriate information to deliver services in a way that is more convenient for customers.

WELSH MINISTER BACKS CITY GUM FIGHT

Sep 19 - Environment Minister, John Griffiths was in Newport today (Monday) to launch a campaign that will help the city rid itself of chewing gum litter. The local authority currently spends £30,000 a year on removing this type of litter but is hoping that the campaign will make local people think twice about how they dispose of their gum, helping to drive down clean up costs in the process.

Speaking at the launch of the campaign, the Minister said: "We want everyone in Wales to enjoy cities, towns and villages that are clean and tidy. "Unfortunately chewing gum litter is having a negative effect on the quality of local environments right across Wales and it is the most difficult type of litter to clear up, with recent estimates suggesting that it costs up to £2.50 to remove each piece of gum. "This is not just a financial issue though. Chewing gum litter is contaminating our streets and is impacting on the perceptions that people have of our beautiful country and our own enjoyment of it.

HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS COMBINE TO BUY AFFORDABLE HOMES

Sep 17 - Four housing associations in Wales have joined forces to deliver affordable homes for rent through a pilot project with support from the Welsh Government and Principality Building Society. Coastal Group, Hendre Group, Seren Group and Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd will work together to buy affordable homes for people to rent under one banner, the Welsh Housing Partnership. These housing associations based in Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Denbigh in north Wales have a combined turnover of £100 million and manage nearly 18,000 homes. The aim of the £16 million project is to increase the supply of quality affordable homes to families who can't afford to buy their own homes.

Charlotte Awcock, a 20-year old insurance underwriter for a company in Cardiff, is the Welsh Housing Partnership's first tenant. Born and bred in Newport, Charlotte is delighted that she has been successful in obtaining a quality rented affordable home in Orchard Gardens, Newport. The timing of the tenancy is especially momentous as she is expecting her first child in a few months time.

Charlotte said: "I'm absolutely delighted with the new house and I consider myself very lucky to be the first tenant of this scheme. A few weeks ago, I was living in a top floor flat, and was not looking forward to climbing up the stairs with a newborn baby in a pram. "After three years on the affordable housing register I am thrilled to be settling down in this lovely estate, and setting up home for me and, my soon to be, first born child."

POLICE APPEAL OVER MISSING WOMAN Sep 11 - Gwent police is appealing for information to help locate missing Newport woman Patricia Anne Fullwood. 62 year old Patricia was reported missing by her family on Wednesday 7th September and police have concerns for her welfare as she is considered vulnerable. Patricia is described as being 4 feet 11' tall and of slight build. She has short cropped copper/red colour hair which is shaved at the back. She has thick gold framed glasses. There was a possible sighting of Patricia getting into a small silver car at around 6pm on Tuesday 6th September. Anyone who sees Patricia or who has information about her whereabouts is asked to contact police on 101.

TJ's UNDER THE HAMMER

Sep 9 - A legendary rock venue in Newport is being put up for auction. TJ's in Clarence Place, reputedly where Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain proposed to singer Courtney Love, closed last year after the death of long-term owner John Sicolo.

The building will go up for sale at the Paul Fosh auction at Cardiff's Park Inn Hotel on 15 September at 17:00 BST with a guide price of £175,000. Mr Fosh said the property offered "tremendous potential". "There's little doubt TJ's was an iconic and well-known rock venue, attracting some major bands especially in the 90s," he said. "It would be great, romantic even, for someone to buy the building and for it to continue its use as a rock venue, but that sadly seems unlikely to be the case."

UNI RANKS BADLY IN SURVEY

Sep 8 - Newport University came bottom of the Welsh contingent in a Sunday Times survey of universities. It came out 115th in the UK. The Sunday Times University Guide, in its 14th year, is described as  by the newspaper “the definitive rankings” for universities. It rates universities on a range of criteria including student satisfaction, teaching and research quality, degree results, student to staff ratio, graduate unemployment levels and university dropout rates.

HEATHROW LINK SUGGESTED BY GOVERNMENT

Sep 7 - UK Transport Secretary Philip Hammond is said to be drawing up plans for a £500m rail scheme linking Cardiff and Newport with Heathrow Airport. A proposed new spur from the Great Western main line would end the need for passengers to travel in to London before heading out to the airport. The scheme, to include the west of England, would also connect with the proposed HS2 high-speed rail link. The Department for Transport estimated it could cut 30 minutes off journeys.

WORK STARTS ON EASTERN SUBURB

Sep 3 - It is reported that work has started on a £1 billion project to build 4,000 new homes on the site of the former Llanwern steelworks in Newport. Developers said that it will see houses built over the next 20 years, creating 6,000 jobs, as well as a business park, a GPs surgery, schools, leisure and retail facilities.

Developer St Modwen has been involved in preparation for the last five years, clearing the site. The first phase of work will see 307 new homes built. The new community to the east of Newport will be called Glan Llyn and the 600 acre site, which was acquired by St Modwen in 2004, includes plans for schools, a rail link, a police station, new access roads, as well as health and leisure facilities. A business park, covering 1.5 million square feet will be built adjacent to the homes. When completed the value of homes and office buildings on the site will top GBP 1 billion.The old heavy steel making plant at Llanwern closed with the loss of 1,300 jobs in July 2001, although there is still a finishing mill there. Up to 400,000 tonnes of concrete cleared from Llanwern will be re used in the redevelopment of the site. A new Eastern Distributor Road will run through the area linking junction 23A of the M4 and the Lliswerry area of Newport. The website for Glan Llyn is here http://www.glanllyn-newport.co.uk/

CHILDREN'S HEALTH CENTRE OPENS

Sep 2 - The Serennu Children's Centre in High Cross was officially opened by the First Minister today. The centre, ten years in the making, was made a reality by generous local funding, the Sparkle Appeal and the Welsh Assembly Government. The centre is purpose built providing care, treatment and activities for children and young people with disabilities and developmental difficulties from Newport, South Monmouthshire and South Torfaen.

TRAINS HALTED BY BODY ON LINE

Aug 30 - Rail passengers have been facing delays between Cardiff Central and Newport after a man's body was found on the line. First Great Western (FGW), Arriva Trains Wales and CrossCountry services were all affected. The body was spotted by a train driver at Marshfield at 06:45 BST. His death is being treated as "unexplained". Trains were suspended but back running by 09:30 BST, with delays of up to 45 minutes.

Replacement buses were brought in between Cardiff and Newport. A FGW spokesperson said: "Services between Cardiff and Newport have been suspended due to an incident on the line at Marshfield. "Police are in attendance but we expect there to be ongoing cancellations and delays for the remainder of the morning.

A man from Cardiff n his 50s is believed to have been hit by a train is due to be formally identified. The Cardiff man's body was spotted by the side of the tracks at Marshfield Road at around 6.50am by a passing train driver. An examination of his body show he suffered injuries consistent with being hit by a train, but it is unclear which train struck him and at what time, British Transport Police said.

CITY'S EDUCATION RESULTS CONTINUE TO IMPRESS

Aug 28 - Results of pupils’ achievements in 2011 at key stages of their education show improvements for all age ranges in Newport compared with last year. Figures released by the Welsh Government show that key stage one (age seven) results. for achieving all three core subjects of maths, science and English – or Welsh in Welsh-medium schools – were the best in Wales. The percentage of pupils who achieved the expected level (two or above) was 88.7 compared with 87.5 in 2010. Key stage two (age 11) also showed an improvement on the previous year with 84.3 per cent of pupils achieving level four or above in the core subjects compared with 83.2 per cent the previous year. Improvement was also seen in key stage three (age 14) with the percentage rising from 68.1 per cent to 70.7 per cent.

TWO RESCUED FROM BUILDING

Aug 26 - Two people have been rescued from a fire at a disused hospital building in Newport. Officers were called to reports of a blaze in Cardiff Road, Newport at 0446 BST on Friday. The administrative building used to be part of the Royal Gwent Hospital.

The rescued people are being treated by ambulance staff at the scene.Crews from Newport, Maindee, Duffryn and Cwmbran are in attendance and damping down.A spokesman for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the building measured 65ft by 98ft (20m by 30m).Crews, including eight wearing breathing apparatus, brought the fire under control at 06.16 BST.

COUNCIL GETS GOOD PERFORMANCE PAYOUT

Aug 26 - Newport City Council has received confirmation from the minister for local government and communities, Carl Sargeant, that it will shortly receive a payment of £1,493,000 as a result of the council’s strong performance against targets set out in the “Outcome Agreements” agreed with the Welsh Government.

The payment is released depending on how successful a council has been during 2010/11 in delivering a wide range of projects, with partners, across various communities and the city as a whole. Newport’s strong performance means that it is eligible for the full 100 per cent of the available grant. Work is already well underway to ensure that this strong performance is continued and developed even further.

Leader of Newport City Council, Councillor Matthew Evans, said: “I am delighted to see the efforts of the council and its partners recognised by the Welsh Government in this way.

IPCC INVESTIGATION IN TO CITY SHOOTING

Aug 25 - An investigation is being launched into contact between Gwent Police, a gunman and his family, after he shot his wife and two others in a Newport hair salon. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) will examine any previous interaction between police and Darren Williams. He shot and injured his estranged wife and two others at Carol-Ann's salon, Malpas Road, last Friday. His body was later found at Brynglas woods.

UNCLAIMED LOTTERY PRIZE IN CITY

Aug 25 - A Lotto jackpot prize of more than £612,000 which was won two weeks ago has yet to be claimed, according to the National Lottery. The search is now on to find the owner of the ticket, which was bought in the Newport area. They matched all six numbers - 2, 4, 7, 27, 43, 44 - and 45 as the bonus ball in the draw on 10 August. The winner has until 17:30 BST on 6 February, 2012 to make their claim. The National Lottery confirmed the unclaimed ticket was one of three jackpot winners in the Wednesday draw two weeks ago.

POLICE APPEAL FOR EVIDENCE IN MURDER INVESTIGATION

Aug 25 - Officers are appealing for information to trace the drivers of two cars who could be vital witnesses in an on-going murder enquiry.  60 year old Jerzy Dubiniec was found dead on Broad Street Pill in the early hours of Saturday 20th August. 

Between 3.30am and 4am on 20th August it's believed four cars passed the scene where the body of Mr Dubiniec was found. Officers have spoken to the drivers of two of the cars but need to trace the other two who could be crucial witnesses to the enquiry. They are urged to come forward to help police with the on going investigation.  Four people (two men, aged 22 and 44 and two women aged 18 and 46) arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless and inconsiderate driving and failure to report a road traffic collision as well as a 19 year old man and a 23 year old woman arrested on suspicion of murder have all been released with no further action.  A 21 year old woman and a 22 year old man arrested on suspicion of death by driving without due care and attention and failing to stop at the scene of an accident remain on police bail pending further enquiries.  Anyone with any information is asked to call Gwent Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

SEARCH FOR MISSING CITY WOMAN Officers are appealing for information to locate a missing Newport woman. 24 year old Alice Doran was last seen at her Newport home at approximately 3pm on Saturday 13th August. She is described as 5'4" tall, of a large build, pale, with short mousy brown coloured hair and brown eyes. When she was last seen she was wearing a grey Mackenzie t-shirt, blue jeans and white Nike trainers. It's believed she could be in the West Bromwich area. Anyone with any information regarding her whereabouts is asked to contact Gwent Police on 101.

SEVEN ARRESTED IN PILL AS BODY FOUND IN ROAD

Aug 21 - Police in Newport have arrested seven people - three on suspicion of murder - after the body of a 60-year-old man was found in the city early on Saturday. Officers believe the man, found in Broad Street, Pill, was subjected to a serious assault and may have been hit by a vehicle while lying in the road. Two men, aged 19 and 25, and a 23-year-old woman, all from the Newport area, are in custody on suspicion of murder. Two men and two women are also being held on suspicion of driving offences.

They have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless and inconsiderate driving and failure to report a road traffic collision. They are also from the Newport area; the men are aged 22 and 44, and the women are 18 and 46. Police said the victim was pronounced dead by paramedics who were called to the scene at about 04:00 BST. Officers said the investigation was "developing and ongoing". The area has been cordoned off and house-to-house and forensic inquiries are being carried out. Gwent Police are appealing for anyone who was in the Broad Street and the surrounding area between 02:00 and 04:00 BST, either on foot or in a vehicle, to contact them urgently.

GUNMAN FOUND DEAD AFTER MALPAS ROAD SHOOTING

Aug 20 - Police said the man who injured three women in a shooting at a hairdresser's in Malpas Road, Newport was targeting his estranged wife. Darren Williams, from Cwmbran, used a double-barrelled shot gun in the attack at Carol-Ann's hair stylist in Malpas Road, Newport on Friday afternoon. His estranged wife was shot in the knee while two salon clients suffered minor injuries from rebounds from the shots.

Mr Williams' body was found in woods about six hours later. Police are now looking at CCTV to piece together events before the shooting which happened at about 14:20 BST on Friday. Two elderly customers were seen running from the salon with towels on their heads and screaming for help. A wide scale hunt for the gunman and his grey Mini Cooper was launched. Mr Williams' body was eventually found at Brynglas woods - behind Brynglas primary school in the city - at 20:15 BST after a member of the public spotted the car about an hour earlier by a canalside about a mile away.

A Gwent police spokesman said: “ We are supporting the families of all concerned in this incident and our priority is to ensure they are kept informed as we continue to investigate exactly what happened. We are extremely grateful for the support we have received from people living and working in the Malpas Road area of the city, whose lives and businesses were considerably disrupted during the day.”

CITY SKATE PARK TO BE RE-LOCATED

Aug 18 - Young people are to be asked for their views on a new location for the city’s skate park. It will also give people an opportunity to make suggestions about the design of the new facility.

The move is being proposed because the present site is due to form part of the exciting plans by the Football Association of Wales (FAW) to create a national centre of excellence at the Newport International Sports Village. A number of alternative sites are under consideration but no decision will be made until consultations have been carried out with skate park users, young people and residents. Councillor Mike Hamilton, cabinet member for leisure and culture, said: “Like many people in Newport, I was thrilled when the FAW chose the city to be the home for the new national centre of excellence for the country’s talented players. The need to find a new location for the skate park is also an ideal opportunity to have an improved facility."

MALL PLAN FOR RETAIL PARK

Aug 17 - Newport's former Megabowl complex is being lined up for conversion in a £20m scheme. The project would see the former bowling alley complex at Newport Retail Park, empty since it was vacated by Megabowl in 2005, transformed into a retail offer renamed the Mega Centre – providing a total of 55,000 sq ft of retail space.

The project is being driven by developers Johnsey Estates, which previously leased the site to Megabowl. It already has consent for a supermarket operator on site, but is now targeting non-food retailers. Work would start on renovating the site after the signing up of retail occupiers – which would require a change of use application on the current planning consent.

Mega Centre, next door to Cineworld, would be served by 700 free car parking spaces. Terry Johnsey, of Johnsey Estates, told Wales Online: “We’ve developed plans to redevelop the empty Megabowl centre as the Mega Centre and bring it back into beneficial use for the people of Newport at what is now recognised as Newport’s premier retail location.

POLICE WARN OVER RETAIL DISTRACTION BURGLARIES

Aug 15 - Police in Newport are appealing for information regarding a group of men and women stealing from newsagents in the city. Three newsagents - one on Cromwell Road, another on Corporation Road and another on Somerton Road - were targeted on Saturday (August 13th) between 10am and 1.30pm. The owners were distracted by the group which consists of approximately 10-12 men, women and children and items including jewellery, cigarettes and cash were stolen from inside the shop and private premises attached to the shop. The females are described as wearing long skirts and have worn scarves over the hair and neck. Shopkeepers are urged to be vigilant of this group and to make sure they keep their private premises locked and secure. If anyone has information they are asked to call Gwent Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

NEWPORT MEN ARRESTED ON PUBLIC ORDER OFFENCES FOLLOWING RIOTS

Aug 14 - A man has been arrested in Newport on suspicion of encouraging or assisting a burglary following rioting in England. The man was later bailed pending further inquiries after his arrest by Gwent Police on Friday night. A total of 15 arrests have been made in Wales for allegedly encouraging public order offences, mostly through social media sites.

Four people have appeared in court, and two of them were remanded in custody by Cardiff magistrates of Friday. Police urged people to "use social media responsibly" and to be careful not to spread rumours. They said they are continuing to monitor social media and networking sites. But officers added that communities in Wales had not experienced unrest like the violence and looting seen in cities across the UK over the last week. Gwent Police said it has made eight arrests so far, following riots in London and other English cities. A 20-year-old man from Newport and an 18-year-old man from the Gwent area who were arrested on suspicion of encouraging a public order offence have been released on police bail pending further enquiries. A 26-year-old man from Ebbw Vale and a 20-year-old man from Newport, arrested in the Bristol area, were both arrested on charges of allegedly intending to cause public disorder. They have been released on bail. A 25-year-old man from the Chepstow area and a 31-year-old man from the Newport area were also arrested on similar charges. They have also been given bail.

CITY MISSES OUT ON LOCAL TV

Aug 13 - Newport will miss out on a possible local television station in plans to be announced by the Government. The third largest city in Wales will have to make do with a Cardiff station. Just to rub it in the Secretary of State for Culture, the Olympics, Media and Sport, Jeremy Hunt, will be outlining his vision for local TV at a summit in Newport on 26th of August! 

This is the breakdown of stations proposed

Bangor - 22,000 households

Cardiff, coverage to include Bridgend and Newport - 500,000 households

Carmarthen - 51,000 homes

Haverfordwest - 25,000 homes

Mold - to include Denbigh, Ruthin - 89,000 households

Swansea - also to include Llanelli -116,000 households

TRADERS AND CITY LEADERS SLAM RAIL LINK DELAY

Aug 11 - Newport's political leaders, organisations and businesses have slammed the latest delay to the Ebbw Vale-Newport rail link. As Newport's city centre sinks into the abyss Carl Sargeant has prevaricated, relying on another feasibility study. The inability of the Welsh Government to get off the fence on this issue has outraged Newport opinion. Newport traders in the South Wales Argus have backed the newspaper's ongoing campaign,  City Council leader Matthew Evans told the paper: “If this new report means that at last we will see a light at the end of the tunnel then I welcome it, but I sincerely hope this is not just another delaying tactic.” His colleague David Fouweather said: “Transport has been devolved to Cardiff. It’s time they pulled their finger out and got on with it.”

TJ HUGHES TO SHUT

Aug 11 - TJ Hughes, based on Newport's East Retail Park, will close its doors next Wednesday with the loss of 50 jobs. Liverpool based TJ Hughes called in the administrators in June - putting 4,000 jobs at risk - after a difficult period of trading. GA Europe bought the chain's £10m debt and is overseeing clearance sales at the stores across the country.

COMMON HOUSING REGISTER AGREED

Aug 11 - Applicants for social housing now make only one application under a reform agreed between the City Council and registered social landlords in Newport. The new procedure will commence from October onwards.

TRANSPORT TEAM BATTLES BUS CRIME

Aug 7 - The ‘Newport Transport Team’ - a team of four PCSO’s, who police Newport’s bus routes, have been cracking down on anti-social behaviour as part of a month long operation.

‘Operation Fareplay’ was designed to deal with anti-social behaviour at Newport Bus Station, particularly the illegal riding of push bikes through the station and smoking in enclosed public places.

PCSO Owen Reynolds, who was part of the operation said: “For many Newport residents, travelling by bus is a part of every day life, so it’s important that the journey is as safe and pleasant as possible.

During the operation, the team achieved the following results:

•    Forty-six people stopped and searched
•    Eight people issued with fixed penalties for smoking
•    Four people issued with £30 fixed penalties for riding push bikes through the bus station
•    Twelve people stopped for riding push bikes through the bus station
•    Twenty-one £30 fixed penalties issued for parking offences on bus routes

POLICE APPEAL OVER BASSALEG BURGLARY

Aug 7 - Police in Newport are appealing for information regarding a burglary in Churchmead area of Bassaleg during which a mobile phone was stolen. Two men entered the  property at approximately 9.30am on Wednesday August 3rd and demanded money. They left with a mobile phone. The victim - a 28 year old male - was uninjured but shaken.

The first male is described as black, aged in his mid twenties, five feet nine inches tall, wearing a black and white bandana, blue vest and a tattoo on his upper left arm. The second male is described as white, in his early twenties, five feet eight inches tall, wearing a grey hooded top and sunglasses.
The two men made off toward the Park View area. If anyone has any information regarding the incident they are asked to call Gwent Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

COUNCIL APPROVES BOOST FOR MARKET ARCADE Aug 3 - A £104k grant has been approved to restore the High Street entrance of Newport's historic Market Arcade. 12-13 High Street is a Grade II listed building located within the City Centre Conservation Area. It forms the principal part of one of the entrance blocks to Market Arcade. Whilst the property has considerable historic character, it is currently in a poor state of repair. Planning permission and Listed Building Consent have been obtained by the owner and the following works are proposed - restoration works to the upper floor building elevations including the replacement of some windows (and repairs to others) - repair and partial replacement of the existing shop front. The Council's Civic Enhancement Scheme proposes a grant a £104,889.64 towards the restoration of 12-13 High Street. This would represent 80% of the total eligible costs of £131,112.06 and would ensure the viability of the scheme. Councillor Bill Langsford commented "It is pleasing to see that something is being done to this historical building at the top of High Street. This Arcade has been allowed to deteriorate over a long period by its owners and I would like to congratulate the applicant in attempting to enhance the looks of this building which has some lovely architecture". Market Arcade designed, like the Newport Arcade in the early 1900's by Haberishon and Fawckner lies between High Street and the Indoor Market.

TUNNEL OPENS AFTER FIRE

July 31 - The Brynglas tunnel on the M4 motorway near Newport has fully reopened following a lorry fire on Tuesday. But Transport Minister Carl Sargeant said there would be a 30mph speed limit as there was only partial lighting. He said there had been work around the clock over the last 72 hours to clear debris and examine the tunnel on the westbound carriageway of the M4. The lorry was removed on Wednesday and overnight high-pressure cleaning was completed to allow works to begin. The Welsh Government said engineers spent Thursday carrying out a full structural, technical and safety inspection while a major clean-up operation continued. The eastbound tunnel had been reopened on Tuesday afternoon with a contraflow system.

LABOUR CONTINUES CAMPAIGN AGAINST INCINERATOR

July 30 - Newport's Labour Group has ramped its opposition to a proposed incinerator plant for south east Wales. Leader Bob Bright stated "My view – and this is the view of the Labour group – is vehemently opposed to any of the waste incineration options on the current Prosiect Gwyrdd shortlist, and particularly to the one at Bowleaze Common [in Newport]."

Mr Bright went on to say that conventional incinerators of the same type proposed for Newport, Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil would be illegal under current US health protection laws, and new plants of this type will probably be outlawed in Europe within the next decade....We cannot hold the health of Newport and the rest of our region as hostage to earlier and unconvincing statements that the link between incineration and fatal diseases is ‘not proven’.

CITY TO HONOUR RICHARD PARKS

July 20 - Newport is making preparations to honour local hero Richard Parks after he conquered the highest peaks on seven continents and trekked to both the North and South Pole. Mr Parks, who was brought up in the city where his parents still live, notched up a world first by successfully completing the 737 Challenge in a record-breaking six months, 11 days, seven hours and 53 minutes.

The intrepid adventurer is being invited to a Mayoral Reception being held to recognise his remarkable achievement. Council leader Councillor Matthew Evans will be among those greeting the former rugby player. “We want to roll out the red carpet for Richard in the city where he grew up,” said Councillor Evans. “He deserves all the accolades he has received and this is just our gesture of showing how proud we are of this truly amazing feat.” The reception is expected to take place next month.

SCHOOL TO BE RENAMED

July 20 - Hartridge High School is to be renamed Llanwern High School when its new building is complete in October 2012. Construction of the £29 million building is being carried out by the Leadbitter Group, they also completed Newport High School in Bettws.

UNIVERSITY MERGER CALL

July 16 - Welsh Government Ministers have been handed proposals for cutting the number of universities in Wales through mergers. A blueprint from the body that funds higher education says mergers should create a "metropolitan" university in south east Wales. Education Minister Leighton Andrews, who last year said universities must "adapt or die", is backing the proposals. It would cut the number of universities in Wales from 11 to six. A report from the Higher Education Funding Council Wales (Hefcw) calls for a merger between the University of Glamorgan, the University of Wales Institute Cardiff (Uwic), and University of Wales, Newport. It would create a "metropolitan" university, comparable to those in similarly-sized cities and regions around the UK.

INCINERATOR PLANT FOR NASH?

July 15 - Bowleaze Common near Nash could be the site of a recycling incinerator plant under plans from a consortium of five local councils. The site on the Caldicot Levels just south of Llanwern Steelworks is being suggested for an Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) by Veolia ES Aurora Ltd. It is one of three options being considered by the consortium which includes Newport City Council. Newport's opposition Labour Group has indicated that it is against the development in Nash. Along with MP Jess Morden they have warned that the Council faces a £3 million penalty clause if it fails to back a decision by the consortium to build the plant in Newport.

The combined municipal waste of the five authorities makes up 40% of the total municipal waste of Wales. Prosiect Gwyrdd states it is committed to looking for the best environmental, cost effective and practical solution for waste after recycling and composting has been maximised in each area.

FLYNN CALL FOR WESTMINSTER TO HONOUR CHARTISTS

July 14 - In the House of Commons Newport West MP Paul Flynn has called for Westminster to honour the Chartists of Newport and other progressive groups instead of royals and generals. He asked Leader of the House Sir George Young "Certain elements in our constitution are well represented in the Palace of Westminster with statues, portraits and stained-glass windows, but there is almost a total absence of memorials to progressive groups, such as the Chartists and the Tolpuddle martyrs, that did so much to shape all that is best in our modern democracy. Can we debate early-day motion 2067, which suggests that we represent, for a start, the sacrifice of the Newport Chartists of 1839, 20 of whom died in what they called “a noble cause”?"

Young replied "It is right that we have statues in the Palace of Westminster that remind us of our traditions and the roots of our democracy. I think that whether and where new statues are erected are matters for the House of Commons Commission. If the hon. Gentleman would like me to raise the issue on the Commission’s agenda, I would be happy so to do."

TUITION FEES GO-AHEAD

CITY POST OFFICES GET EXTRA FUNDING

July 11 - Rosemary Butler has congratulated staff at Cardiff Road, Alexandra Dock and Thornbury Park Post Offices for their successful application to the Post Office Diversification Fund. The three Post Offices to receive the funding have been awarded part of approved grants of £849,658 to help sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses diversify and improve their facility. The fund aims to  helps local post offices expand their businesses and provide new services for the community. She said “I am delighted that these Post Offices are to benefit from this fund. Post Offices are at the heart of the community and are often a lifeline for vulnerable people. This money will help us to keep Post Offices open by ensuring that sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses have sustainable and viable businesses, and I am pleased that so many Post Offices in Wales have been able to take advantage of the fund.”

 

GOLDEN CASKET COMES HOME July 8 - A gift presented to a remarkable and controversial Newport-born politician has found a home in the city thanks to the generous support of the Art Fund and the V&A Purchase Grant Fund. The George V Gold Freedom Casket was given to James Henry Thomas in 1924 by friends when he was made a freeman of Newport. It was purchased for £26,000 and was successfully acquired by Newport City Council. The casket, with enamel panels showing St Paul’s National School, Commercial Street, Newport Harbour, St Paul’s Church and the GWR Chepstow Castle steam locomotive, will now be on display in Newport Museum. Councillor Mike Hamilton, cabinet member for leisure and culture, said: “It is most fitting that this piece of history will now be on display in Newport, the birthplace of the man who received it. “His life was not without its controversy but he served his country and was known for his humour, courage and humanity. “We are very grateful to the V&A Purchase Grant Fund and the Art Fund for making this acquisition possible and I look forward to many people visiting Newport Museum in John Frost Square to visit this and other treasured items we are so fortunate to possess.” Stephen Deuchar, director of the Art Fund, said: “We’re really pleased to have helped make this auction acquisition possible. By putting it on display, visitors will be able to learn more about a fascinating character in Newport’s history. " Find out more about J.H.Thomas here

COUNCIL REPORTS UNDER-SPEND ON CAPITAL PROJECTS

July 7 - Newport City Council’s cabinet will receive a report on the capital programme outturn 2010/11 which will show an underspend of around £2.4m. The report also requests approval for an increase of £10.1m to the programme with a number of new schemes asked to be added to the programme.

The under-spend in 2010/11 results mainly from a reduced spend on the Newport High School project (£1.9m). This under spend can be attributed to the reduced cost of the project. At the time of tendering inflation was running relatively high and was forecast to remain so, however, the sudden decline in the economy meant that prices reduced. The council also benefited from reductions in costs as it adopted the NEC form of building contract which meant any gains in reduced costs were shared equally between the council and contractor. The report suggests that the total under spend in the last financial year is utilised to offset the ongoing programme and in particular the level of borrowing attributable to the replacement Hartridge School currently under construction thus reducing the overall cost of the programme. Earlier in the year, council approved a four year capital programme to cover the financial years 2010/11 to 2013/14 totalling £120.3m. A number of new schemes have been requested to be added to the programme increasing the overall size of the programme to £130.4m including capacity to deal with the proposals for Tredegar House involving the National Trust.

MAN ARRESTED IN BELGIUM IN JEDDO STREET MURDER CASE

July 6 - Police, working closely with the Belgian Federal Police, have arrested a 40 year old man from the Newport area on suspicion of the murder of Richard Carslake. Mr Carslake was found dead in a flat on Jeddo Street, Pill on 06 April 2011. The man was arrested in the Antwerp area of Belgium. Following extradition the man has been charged with murder. He appeared before Caerphilly Magistrates Court on Thursday. Mr Carslake died from pressure to the face and neck. A 19 year old man was arrested and charged following his death.

APPEAL FOR INFORMATION AFTER COLLISION

July 4 - Police are appealing for witnesses following a road traffic collision that occurred yesterday, Sunday 3rd July, between two pedal cycles on the A48 at Castleton near to the old Wyevale Garden Centre site. At approximately 3pm the two pedal cyclists were travelling together along the A48 in the direction of Cardiff when they collided. The collision caused one of the cyclists, a 54 year old man from Wenvoe, to fall off his bike. He was conveyed to the University of Wales Hospital with serious head injuries. He currently remains there in a serious but stable condition. The other cyclist, a 53 year old man from St. Mellons, was uninjured. Officers are particularly interested in speaking to a motorist driving a red car who stopped at the scene of the collision to help, and also a cyclist who was riding in the opposite direction on the A48, towards Newport, at the same time.

SCHOOL TO RE-OPEN TOMORROW

July 3 - Arrangements are being made to enable St Andrew’s Junior School to re-open to pupils tomorrow (Monday) following the serious fire believed to have been caused by a dishwasher earlier this week. Heat and smoke damage as a result of the blaze, which started in a staff room, has affected the entire ground floor.

From Monday, all pupils and staff will be accommodated in the first floor following a thorough cleaning to make it ready for occupation.Health and safety measures will be in place to protect pupils, staff and visitors. Councillor David Atwell, cabinet member for education and young people, said: “This is clearly an upsetting time for everyone at St Andrew’s but I would like to pay tribute to the head teacher, governors and council employees who are doing everything they can to ensure the school can re-open as quickly as possible. “It was also extremely heartening to hear how parents have offered their help. This is community spirit at its best and will help the school recover from this devastating event.”

POLICE TARGET METAL THEFT

July 2 - Scrap metal thieves in Newport should be warned….  A new team of police officers has been launched, dedicated to combating this growing crime. The team, consisting of one sergeant and five officers, is called the ‘Newport Ignite Tasking Team’.  Developed and directed by Inspector Simon Morgan, they work closely with partners such as Newport City Council, BT and the British Transport Police.  Their aim is to reduce the number of metal thefts in Newport and to bring those responsible to justice.

Sergeant Scott Askew, who is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the team, explains:  “To some, metal theft may seem like a minor crime but the knock on effects are huge and potentially deadly.  Power supplies have been cut off in Newport and the damage being caused to the gas and electricity mains can make them extremely dangerous to the public and thieves alike.” Richie Evans, Field Investigator for BT’s local network business Openreach, adds:  “Cable theft is increasing in Wales and in the last twelve months it has grown to be a particular problem in Newport.  This causes huge inconvenience for our customers, many of whom regard their telephone as a lifeline.  That’s why we are delighted to be part of this excellent police initiative.”

To catch those responsible for the metal thefts, the team are employing a number of tactics, one of which is called SmartWater.  SmartWater has been painted on high risk targets such as cables and piping and anyone stealing these will be unwittingly covered in the substance.  SmartWater cannot be washed off and would immediately link a thief to the scene of a crime.
 

TORY AM CALLS FOR NEW CITY RAIL HALT

CITY RECYCLING HITS NEW HIGH

July 1 - Residents have helped to boost Newport’s recycling rate to more than 48 per cent. This good news comes at the same time as figures for the Household Waste Recycling Centre in Docks Way show it has recorded its highest ever recycling rate of 61 per cent.

In 2010/11 the council recycled or composted 44 per cent of household waste produced in the city and this has now risen to 48.3 per cent. Councillor David Fouweather, cabinet member for street services, said: “These latest statistics are extremely encouraging but we still have some way to go to meet the target we have been set of a 52 per cent recycling rate by 2012/13. It is vital that we reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill for a number of reasons. Landfill capacity is rapidly running out and decomposing waste produces methane which is harmful to the environment. Failure to meet that tough 52 per cent figure will also mean the council will be fined up to £368,000. I would like to thank all those residents who are participating in the range of recycling schemes that we operate in partnership with charity Newport Wastesavers. They are all helping to make a big difference to the city and the environment.”

POLICE ISSUE SAFETY ADVICE TO CITY RESIDENTS

Jun 30 - Police Officers in Newport are reminding residents to keep an eye on their car keys after a small number of burglaries in the area have resulted in cars being stolen. Opportunist thieves, who have seen car keys on display in homes, have accessed them through letter boxes, cat flaps and open windows.

Detective Constable Tola Munro, from Newport said:  “Burglaries in Newport have fallen over the past year and if you live in Newport it’s unlikely that your home will get broken into.  This makes it tempting, when it’s warm, to leave a couple of windows open during the day or when you go out. Please remember to shut all windows, when you go out, even if you are just popping to the shops.  If it’s warm at night, leave an upstairs window open on the catch, rather than a downstairs one. And please don’t leave your car keys near the front door, on the table, or in the door!  Put them somewhere safe and out of sight, or do what I do - take them up stairs when I go to bed!”
 

MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER

Jun 29 - Thirty year old Stanislaw Gliszczynski, who was arrested on suspicion of the murder of 34 year old Ramunas Raulinautis who died at Morriston Hospital on the morning of Saturday 12th March, has been charged with murder. He has also been charged with attempted murder and arson with intent in connection with an incident on Livingstone Place in Newport on 8th March. A 27 year old man from Newport has also been charged with assisting an offender.

MAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH CITY MURDER

Jun 27 - Officers have arrested a man they wanted to speak to in connection with a murder investigation where a man died following a fire on Chepstow Road in Newport. The victim, 34 year old Ramunas Raulinautis, died at Morriston Hospital on the morning of Saturday 12th March. The fire was in the forecourt area of the Gateway Express Hotel on Wednesday 9th March, Ramunas Raulinautis was set alight and had also been assaulted. Thirty year old year old Stanislaw Gliszczynski was arrested in London on suspicion of murder. He has been brought back to custody in Newport and is currently being questioned.

CALL FOR CITY ENTERPRISE ZONE

Jun 26 - Commercial property may have a significant role to play should the Welsh government choose Newport as one of its new enterprise zones. The country's first minister Carwyn Jones recently revealed that Wales will follow in the footsteps of England by setting up the special regions, designed to boost trade and industry. And Dan Smith, director of M4 Property Consultants, a commercial property advisory company, said developments will be needed should Newport make the cut, reported Wales Online. He told the news source that while he is encouraged by some of the commercial property projects carried out in the destination, there is room for more. "Newport has proved it is a good business location. However, we must continue to increase the employment opportunities available and to do this we must offer a viable alternative to nearby cities," Mr Smith stated.

In the Budget the Chancellor announced plans to establish 21 new enterprise zones across England that will seek to stimulate selected areas of the country through tax breaks, reduced planning restrictions and "superfast" broadband. The enterprise zones will offer a business discount rate worth up to £275,000 over five years for firms that move into the area over the course of this parliament. The government said it will also help develop "radically simplified" planning processes, and pledged to introduce superfast broadband in the area. The chancellor also said he would consider enhancing capital allowances for plant and machinery in the zones and announced that, for at least 25 years, all business rates growth within the zone will be retained by local authorities to support their economy.

The focus of the first wave of enterprise zones is on cities and areas with untapped potential. The four confirmed enterprise zone sites are:

• Nottingham – the Boots campus
• Liverpool – Liverpool and Wirral Waters
• Manchester – Airport City
• London – Royal Docks

In addition, an area alongside Bristol Temple Meads railway station has been named as a local enterprise zone. The new zone, covering 70 hectares, will offer reduced business rates and simplified planning rules.

THREE RESCUED OFF SANDBANK

Jun 23 - Three people have been airlifted to safety from a yacht which ran aground on a sandbank. Mumbles coastguards received a mayday call on Friday afternoon from the boat, which was stranded 2.5 miles (4km) from the River Usk mouth at Newport. An RAF rescue helicopter from Chivenor and RNLI lifeboats from Portishead and Penarth attended. The 7m (23ft) yacht, Jeannie, is due to be moved on Saturday after bad weather hampered its removal on Friday.

GUIDEBOOK SLATES CELTIC MANOR

Jun 23 - A new guide book entitled 'Wacky Wales' has slated the Celtic Manor's appearance as  “appalling” and “like a prison”. Author Colin Palfrey also characterises Cwmbran is less than glowing terms referring to its “windswept characterlessness”. He writes: “There’s absolutely nothing to keep you there. The wind whistles down the corridors of the shopping areas as if to say: ‘You’ve been here long enough; now go home’.”

HEROIN GANG JAILED FOR 70 YEARS

Jun 18 - Gang members who planned to flood south Wales with drugs worth £50m have been jailed for a total of almost 70 years. The 10 men including two men from Newport were behind what police told Cardiff Crown Court was the biggest ever seizure of heroin in Wales.

An investigation smashed a network stretching from Wales to north west England producing the drug on an industrial scale. Coordinator Det Supt Chris Dodd said: "This highly organised criminal network believed they were above the law." On Friday the gang was jailed for a total of 68 years 10 months by Judge Rhys Rowlands. The court heard how every major town along the M4 was a target for the gang. As more and more heroin began to show up in blood tests carried out at police stations, undercover officers from the Tarian regional task force were deployed. They watched as deals were done in public places, with one favoured spot being outside the Techniquest Science Museum in Cardiff.

Those sentenced with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs after pleading guilty included:

• Stuart Lee James, 25, of Somerton, Newport, 8 years 6 months
• Daniel Eric Bowyer, 22, of Bishpool View, Newport, 3 years 6 months

COUNCIL UPS FUNDS FOR CITY DEVELOPMENT

Jun 17 - As it steps up the urgency of the proposed retail development of the city centre Newport Council's Cabinet has assigned £152,000 from the Newport Festival to the project. In addition, the Cabinet agreed the ‘seed funding’ of the city centre redevelopment scheme in order to progress the development in stages.

CITY FIRM STABILISES PYRAMID

Jun 16 - A city engineering company is using 21st Century technology, including air bags, to help preserve one of Egypt's most imposing landmarks, dating back to 2,700 BC. The Pyramid of Djoser is Egypt's oldest step-built pyramid. But it was at risk of collapse after an earthquake in 1992.

Newport specialist engineers Cintec, who have previously provided solutions to structural problems at landmarks such as the White House and Windsor Castle, were set the task of helping it last another 4,700 years. The team has now completed phase one of the work at the site at Saqqara, south west of Cairo. It involved using pressurised air-filled bags, in order to hold up the roof of the 60m high pyramid, while more permanent repairs are carried out.

FIRE CREWS BATTLE BLAZE

Jun 16 - Fire crews fought a blaze at a terraced house in Newport early on Thursday. The alarm was raised in Chepstow Road, Maindee, at 0515 BST on Thursday, and fire was put out at 0700 BST. South Wales Fire Service said the house's occupants had been accounted for and there were no injuries. Ther fire also affected the roof space of an adjoining property. Four pumps, plus a hydraulic platform and a water bowser attended.

BBC COMMENTATOR DIES

Jun 13 - Former BBC football commentator Idwal Robling has died at the age of 84 following a short illness. Robling's commentating career began on the radio with BBC Wales in the 1960s. But his big break came in 1969 when he won a competition to be part of the BBC commentary team for the 1970 World Cup, beating Ian St John in the final round. Robling, who lived in Malpas,  was a highly respected amateur footballer and was selected in the Great Britain squad for the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki.

M4 SPEED LIMIT ENDS

Jun 10 - The 50mph average speed limit on the M4 at Newport has been lifted with work on variable speed limit signs completed. It was in force between the Coldra (junction 24) and Tredegar Park (28). The Welsh Government says motorists will now enjoy safer driving conditions and more reliable journey times. Transport Minister Carl Sargeant said: "This route plays a major role in the connectivity of Wales and is essential to the future prosperity of our economy." "Replacement of the average speed cameras with variable speed limits (VSL) will achieve this by using new technologies to help ensure that our road network runs smoothly."

WELCOME FOR NEW CYCLING BRIDGE

Jun 8 - A twenty three tonne steel bridge linking Home Farm with Caerleon Comprehensive School has been offically opened as part of the Newport to Caerleon cycling and walking route. The bridge was constructed by Rowecord of Newport and funded by the Big Lottery Fund, the Welsh Government and Newport Unlimited. The project was supervised by Newport City Council.

EIGHT VEHICLE CRASH ON M4

Jun 7 - Seven cars and a lorry were involved in a crash which partly closed the M4 westbound at Newport on Tuesday morning. The crash near junction 28 at Tredegar Park resulted in traffic queues of more than three miles (5km). Two lanes were closed leading to delays for motorists but one was reopened later in the morning. Gwent Police reported minor injuries in the crash, which happed at around 0930 BST.

NEWPORT UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES TUITION FEES HIKE

Jun 4 - The University of Wales, Newport has announced that for many courses they would charge the same levels of tuition fees as Aberystwyth and Cardiff. However, Welsh Government subsidies mean students from Wales will only pay £3,400 but those from England will pay the full amount.

Newport plans to charge £8,250 for less expensive courses, and vice-chancellor Peter Noyes stressed that the £9,000 fees would bring the university only an extra £100 per student. He said: “Increasing the cost of study for our future students is not something we do with any relish, but is the only option available to us in the situation that we find ourselves in.Charging £9,000 is likely to only lift our core funding per student by around £100 per year in comparison to the current situation.”

NATIONAL TRUST TAKES OVER TREDEGAR HOUSE

May 30 - Tredegar House is to be leased to the National Trust for 50 years. Newport City Council took the decision to hand over its running on Tuesday. The park and children's play area will still be free to visitors, bookings for weddings and other events will be honoured, and tour charges will stay. The council will keep ownership of the Grade I listed building as lease negotiations continue. It is hoped a higher profile as the National Trust's first stately home in south Wales will boost paying visitor numbers from 25,000 to 100,000 a year. Tredegar House was the ancestral home of the Morgan family, later Lords Tredegar, from the 15th Century until 1951. The building was then used as a private school until the then Newport Corporation bought the property in 1974. Although the local authority has carried out restoration work in subsequent years, a recent survey found that the house and other buildings on site still needed around £4.5m of major work.

CITY CENTRE DEVELOPER SELECTED

May 30 - Newport City Council claims it has taken another significant step towards the redevelopment of the city centre. The cabinet has agreed a preferred bidder for the multi-million retail scheme in the heart of the city centre with its mix of retail, food and leisure opportunities.

Queensberry, a company linked to one of Europe’s leading developers, was chosen from a robust shortlist following a tendering process. It is responsible for managing the assets of Multi Corporation in the UK. Negotiations will now start between the council and Queensberry to finalise a development agreement which is expected to be completed this autumn. “While there are still legal and other processes that have to be followed, I believe this is a major milestone in the road to finally bringing the retail scheme Newport needs and deserves to the city,” said Councillor Matthew Evans, leader of Newport City Council. “The senior management team behind this bid is the same that successfully delivered award-winning shopping schemes in Bath and Belfast and we look forward to a similarly fruitful partnership.

REMOVALS FIRM EXPANDS IN TO LEEWAY SITE

May 29 - Removals firm Fox has opened a huge new storage facility in Newport. Cwmbran-based Fox Moving and Storage’s new pemises, on Leeway Industrial Estate, is a 17,000 sq ft warehouse spread over three floors and serviced by a lift. It is divided into space for traditional container storage for the removals side of the business and 120 self storage units ranging in size from 15 sq ft to 200 sq ft.

Paul Fox, managing director of the family firm, said the company had long been looking to expand into Newport. “Our family has strong business and personal links to Newport and have been looking for a suitable location in the city for some time,” he said. “We are delighted to be able to offer our services to local residents and businesses. We secured the freehold site in August of last year and have invested approximately £1m rebuilding the facilities. The building was stripped back to its steel frame and rebuilt from the ground to the highest modern standards, adding two metres to its height.” Speaking at the launch of the new site mayor of Newport Bill Langsford, praised Fox’s investment.

MAN CHARGED WITH RAPE AND KIDNAP

May 28 - A 61-year-old man has appeared in court  charged with rape and kidknap after an incident in Newport last Thursday. Robert Alan McMullin, of Meon Close, Bettws, Newport, was remanded in custody after appearing before Caerphilly magistrates following the alleged attack on a teenager after she got into his car on Chepstow Road at 4am.

POLICE CRITICISED AFTER 'GROSS FAILINGS' LED TO MAN'S DEATH

May 26 - An investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) into the death of a "vulnerable" man in a police cell has found "staff failed" to protect him. Andrew David Sheppard, 22, was found dead at Newport Central police station on 30 September 2006.

An inquest into Mr Sheppard's death also revealed "gross failings" in the system. Gwent Police has since implemented all eight recommendations made by the IPCC. Mr Sheppard was detained by police under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 after "behaving irrationally" on 30 September 2006. His family had been in contact with police and health professionals on several occasions, that day, to seek advice. Mr Sheppard, from Newport, was taken to Newport Central police station and detained overnight in a video cell for assessment.

At 10.45am on 1 October, officers went to Mr Sheppard's cell so that he could be medically assessed by a police surgeon within the custody unit. The custody officer was concerned about Mr Sheppard's condition and called for assistance. Mr Sheppard was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital and was subsequently pronounced dead.

FIRST MINISTER CONDEMNS JOB CUTS AT PASSPORT OFFICE

May 23 - Newport's Passport Office will continue as a customer support centre, but no longer process passport applications, the Home Office has confirmed. It says 150 of 300 posts will remain, "significantly" more than proposed. The office provides passport facilities to all of Wales and much of south and south west England. But First Minister Carwyn Jones said it was extremely disappointing that Wales would be the UK's only area without a "fully-fledged passport office". MPs had warned that closing it would have a significant economic impact.

Mr Jones said: "The Newport Passport Office is also a significant employer in Newport, and the loss of these valuable jobs will have a huge impact on the city and the local economy. We will now do all we can to support the staff and help them find new jobs or retrain."

Cllr Matthew Evans, leader of Newport City Council said the original decision was "nonsensical" but there were still mixed feelings by the latest announcement. We sympathise with those who are affected by this morning's decision and are disappointed that IPS did not decide to keep Newport's Passport Office fully open and want assurances that everything possible will be done for those affected," he said. "However, we welcome the news that 150 jobs will be retained in the city."

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "The plan to close the Newport office has represented an attack on an area of the UK economy crying out for investment not cuts, and we remain seriously concerned that half of the jobs are still under threat. I would like to pay tribute to our members who have fought these ill-conceived plans from the outset. We are determined to continue that fight."

A committee of MPs had criticised the passport office plans, warning of a "significant" economic impact.The UK government first announced plans to close the centre last October as part of an efficiency drive. The office itself will relocate to 'other premises in Newport' when the lease on Olympia House ends in 2014.

NEWPORT WAITS FOR EBBW RAIL DECISION BUT ASSEMBLY SPENDS £620k ON NORTH WALES LINE

May 23 - While Newport waits for a prevaricating Welsh Assembly Government to commit to the return of a rail service to Ebbw Vale the same organisation is spending £620k of taxpayer's money on 'faster trains' to north Wales.

The new service, which has a different route to the earlier train, will be run by Arriva Trains Wales. The new service will leave Holyhead at 0751 BST and arrive in Cardiff at 1208. The return journey will leave Cardiff at 1818 BST and arrive back in Holyhead at 2234. Both trains call at Newport on the way.

PASSPORT OFFICE DECISION ON MONDAY

May 20 - The fate of Newport's Passport Office will be decided on Monday. Immigration Minister Damian Green will make a statement to the House of Commons at 10am.

CITY UNI CAMPUS WINS TOP AWARD

May 20 - The design of the University of Wales, Newport’s new City Campus has been recognised in the prestigious RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) architectural awards. Designed by architects BDP, the City Campus’s striking design was praised as “fluidly knitting together considerably diverse uses” by the judging panel.

Commenting on the announcement of the award, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Graham Rogers said: “The city can rightly be proud of the building, which the University has always made clear belongs to the people of Newport. As well as being at the heart of the regeneration of Newport and providing economic growth for the region, we can now proudly say that we have one of the best buildings in Wales right here in our city. This award, coming soon after the BBC’s decision to host the recent election debate from the building, means the City Campus is now known well beyond our city.”

Chris Harding of Architects, BDP added: “It is great news for the University and everyone involved with delivering this amazing building. BDP is very proud of this award and delighted that the City Campus is now recognised for its innovative and creative design.”

ASHGAR CALLS FOR RAIL LINK ACTION

May 18 - South Wales East AM Mohammad Asghar has questioned the Welsh Government on its plans to deliver the long-delayed rail link between Ebbw Vale and Newport. In a written question to Wales’ Local Government and Communities Minister, who now carries responsibility for transport, Mr Asghar has asked what steps are being taken “in relation to the opening of a direct rail link between Ebbw Vale and Newport”.

Mr Asghar said: “I have long championed the massive benefits that a direct rail link between Ebbw Vale and Newport would bring. The constant delays from the previous administration were hugely disappointing and caused much frustration to many of my constituents. So many businesses and traders in Newport regard the opening of the rail link as pivotal to their future survival. I hope the new Minister with responsibility for transport will end these incessant delays and offer a solution”.

COSTA COFFEE SET FOR CITY CENTRE

May 16 - In a welcome boost for the city centre Costa Coffee is set to occupy the former Barclays Bank building at 22-23 Commercial Street, opposite H&M. 

SMALLER WASTE BINS ON WAY

May 16 - Newport City Council is looking at whether it can to boost its recycling levels by giving homes smaller wheelie bins. More than 70 households in Newport took part in a three-month trial using bins a quarter or a third smaller than usual.

A strategy report sees the idea as a key plan for 2011-12, with a reduction in the size of waste bins helping to promote recycling. The Council said no firm proposals have been put forward. Councils across Wales are under pressure to improve and maintain their recycling rates. The Welsh Government has a goal for all councils to recycle 70% of all waste by 2025.

COPPER THEFT HITS CITY BROADBAND

May 13 - Gwent Police and BT is appealing for help after copper thefts caused thousands of pounds worth of damage and cut services in parts of south Wales last week. Residents and businesses in Monmouthshire and Newport were affected when 80m of cable was stolen in Tredegar Park.

Two days later attempted thefts in Newport hit services again. The price of copper has risen 41% leading to a rise in thefts. A Gwent Police spokeswoman confirmed that 80m of cable was stolen early on Wednesday, 4 May, from the junction box in Morgan Way, Tredegar Park.

BUTLER, THE NEW PRESIDING OFFICER

May 10 - Rosemary Butler is new Presiding Officer of the Welsh Assembly. Mrs Butler has been the Labour AM for Newport West since 1999, before which she was a councillor in Newport for 26 years. Under first secretary Alun Michael she was appointed as the minister for pre-16 education, but was later sent to the backbenches under Rhodri Morgan to make way for a coalition with the Liberal Democrats.

She has served as the assembly's representative on the EU's committee of the regions, as chair of the culture committee and as deputy presiding officer.She is married to the artist and designer Derek Butler and has two children and four grandchildren. She lives in Caerleon. Mrs Butler is a founder member of Newport Women's Aid and president of the Friends of Newport Transporter Bridge.

NEWPORT REJECTS LIB DEMS AND AV

May 7 - Newport decisively rejected the Liberal Democrats in Thursday's Welsh Assembly elections and also gave a thumbs-down to Lib-Dem backed changes to our voting system. The talisman of the Liberal Democrats in Newport, Ed Townsend, suffered a huge personal re-buff as voters relegated him to a distant third in Newport East. The Lib Dem candidate in Newport West, Liz Newton, finished a humiliating fourth. Despite years of tenuous claims that the Lib Dems can win in Newport (particularly in Newport East) they now face political meltdown in the area and the potential loss of most of their councillors in next year's City Council elections. Labour have recovered significant ground. The Conservatives vote held up well and they can point to a strong performance in Newport West, where they secured a third of the vote.

NEWPORT EAST

NEWPORT WEST

AV REFERENDUM

Newport East - No 13122 Yes 6277

Newport West - No 15643 Yes 7297

MAJOR RAIL ENGINEERING WORKS IN NEWPORT AREA

May 3 - Rail travel in Newport will be disrupted as Network Rail update signalling as part of a £400 million upgrade project in the Newport area. Despite this there is still no sign of any announcement concerning the routing of the Ebbw Vale line in to Newport despite a promise from the Assembly Government to make a decision in March 2011.

Mark Langman, route director for Network Rail said: “The signalling equipment in the Newport area is around 30 years old and is limiting growth on the railway in the area. This is an essential improvement that will also contribute to our ongoing effort to build a world-class railway in Wales. For the new signalling equipment to be tested and switched over, there will be some temporary changes to services travelling into and out of Newport. We will be taking extra steps to minimise the disruptions by operating two lines out of four for most of the rail services to run.”

The majority of rail services will continue to operate with a revised time-table as trains run two out of four lines through Newport area, except for 15 May (Sunday) when there will be no rail services. These services running into and out of Newport from Cardiff, Bristol and Hereford will be replaced by replacement coaches. Coaches will also replace rail services in the morning on 8 May and late evening on 14 May, and between Newport and Hereford all day on the 14 May.

APPEAL FOR MISSING CITY MAN

May 3 - Police in Newport are appealing for information regarding 42 year old John Barrington who has been missing from his Newport home since Sunday May 1st. He was last seen on the morning of April 30th. Its believed he went to meet a friend in Weston Super Mare. John is described as six feet tall, slim build with short brown hair. When he was last seen he was wearing blue jeans, royal blue jacket with white stripes, a blue top and trainers. John has two tattoos - Batman on his upper right arm and  Mickey Mouse on his upper left arm If anyone knows of John's whereabouts they are asked to call Gwent Police on 01633 838111.

PARTY LEADERS HEAD FOR NEWPORT

May 1 - The Welsh political party leaders are heading to Newport as they approach the final run-in of the campaign before the WElsh Assembly election vote on May 5. The four main party leaders in Wales are to go head-to-head in a debate on BBC Wales on Monday evening. Nick Bourne, Carwyn Jones, Ieuan Wyn Jones and Kirsty Williams will appear on the Leaders' Debate programme, which is being recorded at the Riverfront in Newport. The debate will be shown on BBC One Wales at 22.20 BST.

SCHOOL START / END TIMES SET TO CHANGE

Apr 29 - Newport City Council’s proposal to change school day start and end times in six of its secondary schools has been approved by the Chief Education Officer following a consultation period. The changes from September 2011 are as follows.

ANOTHER WIND TURBINE SET FOR DOCKS AREA

Apr 28 - Another wind turbine is set for the Usk Estuary area. Joining the two on the East side of the river near the Solutia plant, Associated British Ports intend to build a wind turbine on the West bank to the north west of Alexandra Dock.

IMMIGRATION APPEALS SERVICE ATTACKED FOR WASTING PUBLIC MONEY

Apr 28 - The Immigration Appeals Service has been slammed for forking out £2500 a month in taxi fares for appellants when an hourly bus service is available running near to the centre in Langstone. Matthew Sinclair, from The Taxpayers' Alliance, said: 'Across the public sector, costs need to be properly kept under control and the taxpayer's money spent on front line services and not on more convenient journeys for asylum seekers to tribunals. If there are more are more affordable options other than taxis, they should be used wherever possible as one more way of minimising the burden on hard-pressed families.' A Newport Transport service running to the Admiral Insurance building costs £1.30 single. A taxi fare from Newport to Langstone will set you back at least £9.

A spokesman for the Tribunals Service told The Sun: 'The service is provided for appellants as part of the conditions imposed by the local authority when planning permission was granted for the centre.'

CITY CENTRE MELTDOWN CONTINUES

Apr 23 - Newport city centre is reeling from further damaging blows with the news that menswear retailer Burton is to shut up shop in June. In addition, the Wallis store on Commercial Street is set to relocate in to British Homes Stores. The news follows the closure of Next, the relocation of Monsoon to the former Accessorize store and the impending closure and relocation of High Street icon Marks and Spencer. The desperate trading position of the city centre comes despite a blaze of initiatives including free parking and an advertising campaign urging shoppers to 'rediscover Newport' alongside the opening of a massive University site housing 3000+ students.

The proposed redevelopment of the Cambrian Centre has hit a major hitch. Scarborough Developments admit they cannot find a supermarket willing to anchor the scheme and it is likely it will take on a much smaller scale than originally planned.

FIRE RESCUE IN CENTRE

Apr 22 - South Wales Fire and Rescue Service say a house fire in Newport, near the city centre in Mellon Street, broke out just after 2230 BST on Thursday. One person was rescued and the blaze was brought under control by three crews and a hydraulic platform.

TORIES WITHDRAW LEAFLET

Apr 21 - It may be a dull campaign but there's no end to the detritus and misinformation dropping through your letterbox. Newport's Tories were forced to withdraw a leaflet according to Wales Online after claiming, without foundation, that Labour were planning to shut down the city’s Royal Gwent Hospital – one of the largest in Wales, employing 7,000 people and serving much of the old Gwent area.

CITY TO HOST NATIONAL FOOTBALL ACADEMY

Apr 8 - Newport will be the home of Wales National Football Academy. The £5 million scheme will, subject to planning permission, see four new pitches, laid on land behind the Velodrome near Newport County's football ground. It will act as headquarters for the Welsh Football Trust, the game’s development body, with analysis suites, sports science laboratories and coach education facilities is also proposed for the site. Newport beat off more than 70 other potential sites in Wales but according to the Argus 'the International Sport Village topped was chosen because of its impressive facilities, its potential to support further development and its ease of access.'

FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford announced plans for the development of a state-of-the-art, purpose built, football training facility at the Newport International Sports Village (NISV) in partnership with the Welsh Football Trust and Newport City Council.

At the launch of the proposed project in the National Velodrome in Newport, Mr Ford set out the main objectives of the project.

• A dedicated facility for use by all Football Association of Wales and Welsh Football Trust representative squads.

• A centre of excellence for coach education and sports science enhancing the Welsh Football Trust programme delivery of “More Players, Better Players”

• National Training Centre for men’s under 21, intermediate and youth squads, women’s national and intermediate teams, national disability squads, referees training, and a training venue for international teams and professional clubs visiting Wales.

• Purpose built football development headquarters for the Welsh Football Trust providing administration services and multi-purpose education facilities encouraging the integration of player development and coach education.

POLICE LAUNCH PILL MURDER INQUIRY

Apr 8 - Police say they are treating the death of a 48-year-old man, whose body was found in a flat in Newport, as murder. Richard Glyn Carslake, 48, was found dead in the flat on Jeddo Street, Pill, at 0915 BST on Wednesday. A post mortem examination indicated he died as a result of pressure to the neck and face, said police. A 20-year-old man from Pontypool, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is in police custody. Det Ch Insp Ian Roberts, who is leading the investigation, said: "Our thoughts remain with Richard's family, and police family liaison officers are supporting them at this extremely difficult time. We are continuing to follow a number of lines of inquiry in and around Pill and Newport city centre, and are still very interested in speaking to anyone who may have seen Richard on or since March 29th."

BUS RE-ROUTING TO CONTINUE

Apr 7 - The City Council and Newport Bus have agreed to continue to re-route buses via the Queensway through the summer period. A City Council report states "The experiment has been seen to affect passenger behaviour early in the day and market traders have noted an increase in footfall. Since the end of the experiment Newport Bus have continued to route services around Queensway until 16:30 in the afternoon and intend to continue doing so throughout the summer." 29.5 per cent of retail traders are reporting an increase in trade since December but 35.5 per cent are reporting a decrease possibly attributable to the decline in the retail offer there.

MORE MONEY COMMITTED TO CITY CENTRE PROMOTION

Apr 7 - Newport’s beleaguered city centre is due to receive significant investment from urban regeneration company, Newport Unlimited, to the tune of £2.6m. This will be used for improving the environment and vibrancy within the city centre. There will also be a focus by Newport Unlimited on promoting the city externally and highlighting what the city and its surroundings have to offer and why Newport is a logical choice for business, leisure, education and living.

Newport Unlimited has produced its eighth annual business plan which will see over the next year a concentration of activities that will compliment the focus of Newport City Council around the redevelopment of the retail core. On top of the £2.6m, Newport City Council has set aside £1.2m for the city centre for a range of initiatives aimed at attracting more people into the city centre and includes around £850,000 for the free parking offer in the council’s car parks. Gareth Beer, chief executive of Newport Unlimited, said: “Newport Unlimited recognises that the regeneration of Newport’s city centre is a top priority and is therefore making significant investment to aid the regeneration of the area."

NEW CAERLEON - CITY LINK

Apr 4 - A new bridge over a mainline railway was put into place over the weekend as part of a project to provide a walking and cycling link between Caerleon and the city centre in Newport. Work began in January on the latest stage of the pedestrian and cycle route which connects Home Farm to Caerleon Comprehensive School. It is due to be completed in May.

As well as extending the current path, which runs from Pillmawr Road to Home Farm and was opened in April 2010, it will also create a safe route to school for the pupils of Caerleon Comprehensive. The 23-tonne steel bridge, which is almost 29m long, was designed by Capita Symonds, built by Newport company Rowecord Engineering and was installed during an overnight operation by Alun Griffiths Contractors this weekend. A 200 tonne mobile crane is being used and the railway line will be closed to trains between midnight and 6am.

Gwent Police accompanied the structure to the site near St Cadoc’s Hospital and Network Rail also gave assistance to ensure this vital piece of the route is installed. The Caerleon to Newport campus to campus scheme is part of charity Sustrans’ Connect2 project which is developing everyday walking and cycling links in communities across the UK. It was awarded £50 million by the Big Lottery Fund following a public vote in 2007 and some of this money is making its way to Newport.

WORK STARTS ON STEELWORKS ROAD HERALDING NEW DEVELOPMENT

Apr 4 - Work has commenced on the first stage of the upgrade of the steelworks road between Magor and Newport. The road will be a key link for the eastern suburb development to junction 23 of the M4. The Welsh Assembly Government purchased the road from Corus in 2010 for £7.7 million as an alternative to the shelved M4 relief road scheme.

Read more about the development here and the proposed business park here

The first formal planning application to Newport City Council was submitted in late February and is for 311 homes near Spytty Road, which is the main road into the 600 acre site. St Modwen has brought in housebuilder Persimmon as partner on this first phase of development.

Over the next 20 years, St. Modwen aims to transform Glan Llyn into a new business and residential community, providing 4,000 new homes and 6,000 new jobs. Plans include schools, library, police station, supermarket and doctor’s surgery supported by almost 100 acres of leisure space amenities such as parks and lakes.

Nick Alexander, St Modwen’s residential land manager, said that construction of the housing could start as early as this summer. The group has also submitted a second, related, application for £5m of infrastructure works, which will improve access to the brownfield site. Alexander added: “The public park will be the first to be developed in Newport for several years and will be linked to the first phase of homes via pedestrian bridges crossing a watercourse. It will provide a cricket field, games area, play facilities and will offer acres of green space, open woodland, a parkway and two lakes. The park will fit in with our vision to establish Glan Llyn as a sustainable community where people can live and work as well as relax.” St Modwen’s planning submissions in Newport follow the application to Wolverhampton City Council in January to regenerate the Goodyear Works and develop 314 new homes at the 88 acre site, also as part of the joint venture with Persimmon.

BUILDING FIRM DONATES LOG CIRCLES TO CITY SCHOOLS

Mar 28 - In preparation for construction of the new Hartridge High School in Newport, the Leadbitter Group has donated log circles to several primary schools in the area for use during forest school sessions.

The logs, which had been cut from trees that needed removal from the Hartridge High School site, were installed by the Newport City Council grounds maintenance department. Natalie Waller, the council’s biodiversity in schools officer said: “When I approached Leadbitter with the idea of donating the logs, they were very enthusiastic. It’s great that the company is working with the local community to provide this important resource for our school children.”

Recently, Leadbitter was invited to join year three pupils from Eveswell Primary School to unveil the new log circle, which will provide the children with a new outdoor classroom. During the event, pupils were taught the rules of the log circle when used during a forest schoolsession, and also took part in a bug hunt.

MATTHEWS OPENS CITY CAMPUS

Mar 17 - The £40m campus at the University of Wales, Newport has been opened by business tycoon Sir Terry Matthews. The building on the banks of the River Usk houses 2,700 students from Newport Business School and much of the school of art's media and design department. It was completed at the end of last year, and been occupied since January.

The university said the invitation to Sir Terry to formally open the building was a signal of its focus on providing economic growth and regeneration to Newport and Gwent. In a full day of events, including a community open afternoon, Sir Terry, who owns the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport and is one of Wales' most successful businessmen, was speaking about the role higher education can play in driving the economy. He was also receiving an honorary fellowship of the university.

According to the Argus a major scheme aimed at turning university graduates into entrepreneurs is to be launched in Newport next week.Sir Terry Matthews and his business partner Simon Gibson will open a base for their entrepreneurship foundation Alacrity in the centre of the city.

MAN CHARGED AFTER FIRE DEATH

Mar 15 - A 27-year-old man has been charged with murder after the death of Ramunas Raulinautis found with severe burns on a hotel forecourt in Newport. The man, from Newport appeared at Caerphilly magistrates on Tuesday. A man, believed to be in his 30s, was found in front of the Gateway Express hotel on Chepstow Road late last Wednesday.Gwent Police believe the man was assaulted before he was discovered. He died on Saturday. He died at a burns unit at Morriston Hospital in Swansea.

The partner of the 34-year-old man who died after suffering severe burns has paid tribute to a "loving, kind person". Ramunas, known as Ramaz, Raulinautis was found in front of the Gateway Express hotel on Chepstow Road, Newport, late on 9 March. His partner has encouraged people with information about his death to contact police.

His partner Mandy said in a statement released through police: "Ramaz was a loving, kind person. I loved him very much. I am devastated to hear of his tragic death. "I encourage people to come forward to the police if they have any information."Anyone in the Chepstow Road area of Newport between 1900 and 2215 GMT on 9 March is asked to call Gwent Police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

BACKING FOR 2011 FESTIVAL

Mar 15 - The City Council has backed a £270,000 investment in the Newport Festival. The 2010 Festival coinciding with the Ryder Cup was deemed to be a great success and the event will again focus on creating spectacle and entertainment in the City Centre culminating in a Christmas event.

POLICE CLEARED AFTER MAN FOUND DEAD

Mar 14 - A police response to an alert raised from a member of the public has been described by the Independent Police Complaints Commission “proportionate in the circumstances”. The inquiry found that police who turned up more than two hours late to a priority call triggered by concerns for a homeless man were cleared today of any wrongdoing. Graham Howard, 53, was found dead on a bench in Cardiff Road, Newport, three hours and 45 minutes after a police alert from a shop owner. The non-emergency call was graded as a “priority” by Gwent Police, meaning that it had a 60-minute maximum response time.

FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION BLAMED FOR TICKETING FIASCO

Mar 14 - The Football Association for Wales has been slammed by Newport County after the club was told to refund the purchase of 500 tickets for the upcoming Wales-England international in Cardiff (March 26).

Newport County chairman Chris Blight said that the club had been told to refund around 500 fans for the match after an administrative error meant the FAW sold around 1,500 more tickets than they could hold in the stadium. Mr Blight said the scheme – which saw clubs acting as “agents” to sell tickets to fans and received a 25% cut – had turned into an “extremely disappointing exercise”. The FAW had extended the deadline for applications from January 31 to February 18, but an office bungle meant an area of the ground was included in main allocations that shouldn’t have been and meant many clubs and members who applied after the extension lost their tickets. According to reports the Football Association Of Wales even cashed County’s cheque, leaving already upset fans without an immediate refund. Now the money has been refunded to the club, but County faces having to cough up administration charges and will not receive any of the extra money which made the ticket scheme attractive in the first place.

VOTERS IGNORE WELSH POWERS VOTE

Mar 5 - Only 27.9 per cent of registered voters in Newport turned out to vote in the referendum on additional powers for the Welsh Assembly held on Thursday. In some areas of the city the vote was nearer 20 per cent as Newport voters expressed their disinterest in the proposition. The vote went marginally in favour of a 'yes', although less than 1 in 5 of all voters in Newport backed it, significantly undermining the mandate for change. The vote was as follows

15,983 voted YES - (54.8 per cent) , 13,204 voted NO (45.2 per cent).

In Wales, other than Monmouthshire, where voters narrowly favoured a 'no', there was more emphatic support despite an appalling turnout of 35.2 per cent. The Assembly will be able to make laws on all matters in the 20 subject areas it has powers for, without needing the UK Parliament's agreement.

'CITY WOMAN' IN CUPCAKE RAGE INCIDENT

Mar 3 - Police are hunting a strawberry blonde woman, aged 35-45, allegedly from Newport, after she was accused of trashing the shop in the centre of Cardiff after being told: “Sorry we’ve sold them all.” The woman lashed out at Sugarswirlz in Dominions Arcade, when she was told the £2.20 “sweet-tooth fairy cakes” had all gone. It is claimed she attacked the proprietor of the shop and threw cakes around the shop in a fit of fury. Her two young sons also witnessed the incident.

STUDENTS AND FREE PARKING BOOST CITY TRADE

Feb 27 - Newport’s city centre traders have seen an increase in trade since the new year introduction of free parking and the opening of the new city campus, according to the City Council.

The city campus which houses the Newport Business School and much of the School of Art, Media and Design opened on 10 January, bringing with it over 2,700 students studying part and full time courses. Since the campus has opened trade in the city centre has increased and businesses have seen a positive response to discount promotions they have run specifically targeting students. Many shops also offer discounts on the production of student cards.

Michael Hine, Kingsway Centre manager, said: “Many of our retailers have welcomed the boost in trade and are keen to provide students with some great promotions and priority offers. Claire’s Accessories and Wilkinsons in particular have enjoyed welcoming the additional custom. We look forward to being a hub for student shoppers and to a long and mutually rewarding partnership.” Smaller businesses have also benefited from an increase in custom. Jason Russell, manager of The Fun Factory situated on Commercial Street, added: “It’s been great for us to see so many new customers since the new year. The range of products we sell are very popular with students and we will also be looking to start offering students deals.”

There is now two hours of free parking in council multi-story car parks in the city while shoppers pay only 10p for the first two hours in council surface pay and display car parks. This nominal charge has been introduced to prevent significant delays in implementing the discount and to eliminate the extra cost of new ticket machines. The Kingsway Centre also offers complimentary two-hour free parking.

CITY UNIVERSITY MAY LOOK FOR ENGLISH PARTNER

Feb 26 - Newport University has revealed it will partnering with an English institution as pressure to cut costs by collaborating intensifies, according to a report from Wales Online. Welsh universities must halve in number by 2013. The University states it has appointed a steering group, including the former director general of higher education in the UK Government, to consider its future structure. The terms of reference include the possibility of merging with institutions inside and outside of Wales, partnerships with non- education based organisations and continued independence. Members will review the option of joining a new “super university” with Swansea Metropolitan, Trinity Saint David's, Carmarthen and the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff.

TRANSPORTER BRIDGE TO AIM FOR HERITAGE STATUS

Feb 26 - Plans for a joint bid to recognise three UK transporter bridges as World Heritage Sites have taken a step forward. If agreed the bridges in Newport, Middlesbrough and Warrington would be protected from demolition by the United Nations heritage body Unesco. World Heritage Sites are chosen for their outstanding universal value to culture, history or science. The Friends of Newport Transporter Bridge are hosting a meeting of the British branch of the World Association of Transporter Bridges at the Celtic Manor in Newport. It called the conference to discuss how to take forward a joint bid for Unesco World Heritage Status. The transporter bridge inBilbao is already listed.

RECYCLING RATE UP

Feb 25 - Newport City Council has claimed that residents are now recycling 45 per cent of waste. An annual increase of 7.67 per cent was achieved over last year, however this is some way short of the 70 per cent recycling rate which needs to be reached by 2025.

Stephen Davison, head of public protection and environment services said: “The vast majority of residents have shown a growing commitment to recycling and composting and I would like to congratulate everyone on the efforts that have been put in so far. The importance of people participating in the schemes can not be understated, it is essential to our success”.

3.9 PER CENT COUNCIL TAX RISE FOR CITY

Feb 19 - Newport is set to have one of the largest Council Tax rises in the locality following an agreement on the Council's budget by the City Council Cabinet. A rise of 3.9 per cent is proposed for a full Council meeting on February 22. The police precept element of Council Tax will increase by 3.7 per cent.

Members were told that the tax base is for 2011-12 is 53,278 properties, which on current Council Tax rates will generate additional Council Tax income of about £396,000 compared to the current financial year’s tax base.

The Cabinet stated that it "recognised that Newport has one of the lowest Council Tax levels in Wales and the UK . Whilst changes in Council Tax levels are usually noted in percentage terms, the cash increase this delivers in Newport will be smaller against other local authorities as our starting point is low in the first place."

The Cabinet agreed to the following cuts in services -

• Reductions in the funding of extra care / telecare for individuals (mostly elderly) living in their homes

• Reductions in the Council's commitment to floral displays and staffing at its two nurseries

• A 5 per cent cutback in support for the Wales National Youth Theatre / National Youth Orchestra

• Cutbacks in support for Gwent Outdoor Education Service (subject to discussions with Monmouthshire County Council)

• Staff reductions in the Council's CCTV and Warden services

SHAKE UP FOR NEWPORT UNLIMITED

Feb 19 - Urban regeneration company Newport Unlimited has appointed six new board members. They are David Russ, managing director of South Wales Chamber of Commerce; Steven Luke, director of Ove Arup & Partners; Dr Peter Noyes, Vice-Chancellor of University of Wales in Newport; Newport- born Simon Cookson, director at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Bristol; Peter Cahill, chief executive of Newport City Homes, and Paul Edwards, partner of Davis Langdon, an international building consultancy with a turnover of £200m.

FUNDING BOOST FOR PILL

Feb 18 - More than £6 million will be invested into one of Newport’s most deprived areas after a massive regeneration project was given a funding boost by the Welsh Assembly Government. The Pillgwenlly Regeneration Project, a four-year programme led by Newport City Council, has been backed with a £4.7m funding package, including support from the European Regional Development Fund and the Targeted Match Fund.

The investment will help drive forward business and community facilities, and deliver environmental improvements to the area. Work will shortly begin on the first phase of the programme which includes refurbishments to the former library in Temple Street to transform it into a resource centre for the community, including social enterprises and training providers.

WHANT CHARGED WITH NIKITTA MURDER

Feb 13 - A man has been charged with the murder of pregnant teenager Nikitta Grender. Carl Whant, 26, will also face a charge of child destruction and will appear before magistrates in Caerphilly on Monday morning.

Heavily pregnant Miss Grender was stabbed twice in her flat in Broadmead Park, Liswerry, Newport on February 5, before her flat was set on fire. Whant is the second cousin of the victim's boyfriend Ryan Mayes, 18, who is the father of her baby, already named Kelsey-May. Stacey Turner, the CPS's district crown prosecutor for Gwent, said: "The Crown Prosecution Service has been working closely alongside Gwent Police as the investigation into Nikitta Grender's murder progressed. We can now confirm that, having carefully examined a file of evidence provided by Gwent Police, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to charge Carl Whant with the murder of Nikitta Grender and that it is in the public interest to do so. Accordingly, we have advised Gwent Police to charge him. Offences relating to unborn children fall outside the scope of murder legislation. Therefore in respect of Nikitta Grender's unborn child, we have also advised Gwent Police to charge Carl Whant with the offence of child destruction under the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929. The defendant will appear at Caerphilly Magistrates' Court on Monday 14 February at 10am."

M4 CLOSED BY TUNNEL FIRE

Feb 12 - The M4 was closed briefly has reopened after a car fire in the Brynglas tunnels, Newport, on Friday. A fault with the vehicle is thought to have started the fire in the motorway tunnel westbound at 1107 GMT, said Gwent Police. The eastbound tunnel, which was closed for more than an hour, reopened at 1300 GMT but the westbound tunnel remained closed until 1410 GMT. The driver of what is believed to have been a Jaguar car escaped injury. At one point 25 firefighters were on the scene. Emergency services said six fire engines from Malpas, Maindee, Dyffryn and Cwmbran were called to the scene.

NEW POWER STATION OPENS

Feb 12 - A new gas-fired power station built at a cost of £600m at Uskmouth, near Newport, has been officially opened. DONG Energy which operates the new Severn Power Station said it has the capacity to produce electricity for around 1.5m homes. It has been built next to an old coal power station and the company said there would be far fewer emissions.

Danish-based DONG Energy said the station, built in under three years, was "one of the most efficient natural gas-fired power stations in the UK." Operations and maintenance project manager, Kristian Kure, told BBC Wales: "Natural gas is a very clean fuel - there are no noticeable emissions of any kind.The process itself is very quick starting - we can start from no production to full production in 36 minutes so it gives us great flexibility." He said it was particularly useful in supplementing energy produced by wind turbines.

ARREST OVER NIKITTA MURDER

Feb 9 - Detectives investigating the murder of a pregnant teenager on a Newport estate have arrested a 26-year-old man. Gwent Police said the man, from the Newport area, has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Nikitta Grender, 19, who was eight months pregnant, was found dead in her burning bedroom in Broadmead Park, Liswerry, early on Saturday. Police have said she was stabbed twice before her first-floor flat was set on fire in a bid to disguise the killing. Officers said the man, who was arrested at 1000 GMT, is not from the Broadmead Park, Moorland Park or Pontfaen areas of the city. Searches are continuing in and around the estate for the weapon used in the attack, believed to be a knife, although the exact type has not yet been established.

70 JOBS AT RISK

Feb 9 - Banking group Lloyds has confirmed that around 70 insurance jobs in Newport are at risk following a restructure. The news comes after the company announced 200 job losses across the UK, mainly in its insurance division. The firm has around 900 employees at its office in Tredegar Park, Newport. Staff were told of the news on Tuesday. The banking group said that some of the staff may be redeployed within the business.

FAMILY'S PLEA OVER DAUGHTER'S MURDER

Feb 7 - The grieving parents of a heavily pregnant teenager have spoken of their struggle to come to terms with her violent murder. Nikitta Grender, 19, was found dead by fire-fighters called to a blaze at her flat in Newport on Saturday morning.

Neighbours in the community on the estate in Broadmead Park, Liswerry, where she lived, have spoken of their shock and anger at the killing. Now Miss Grender's parents have spoken out for the first time in a brief statement paying tribute to their daughter and unborn granddaughter who was to be named Kelsey-May. "As a close family we are trying to come to terms with the tragic events which have led to the untimely death of our beautiful daughter Nikitta and granddaughter Kelsey-May," they said in the statement issued by Gwent Police. "We wish to appeal for any persons with information to contact the police in an effort to find out why this has happened. "We ask to be left alone at this time with Nikitta and Kelsey-May's family to come to terms, if possible, with the tragic events which have taken our daughter and grandchild from us." Police confirmed that the mother-to-be was murdered before the blaze was set at her flat, almost certainly in an effort to hide the killing.

CABLE THEFT CAUSES TRAIN DELAYS

Feb 7 - Cable thieves delayed and disrupted rail services in south Wales after two separate attacks at the weekend, say transport police. Signalling cable at Newport's Maindee depot was damaged on Saturday while on Sunday 110m of cable was taken at the east Usk junction. Rush-hour commuters on Monday complained of delays of up to 45 minutes.

Network Rail has offered up to £1,000 for information about the thefts. Mark Langman, route director for Network Rail, said: "Network Rail is offering up to £1,000 for information which leads to an arrest and conviction. "We are doing all we can to stop these thefts but we need the support of the community to be our eyes and ears on the ground. "I am appealing directly to anyone with information regarding the people who committed this mindless act to come forward. " Network Rail said that 22 rail services between south Wales and London had been cancelled, 49 part-cancelled and 216 trains delayed as a result of the damage at the weekend.

PREGNANT TEEN STABBED TO DEATH IN LLISWERRY

Feb 6 - Police are now investigating the murder of a heavily pregnant teenager found dead after a flat fire say that she had been stabbed. According to press reports, Gwent Police state a post-mortem examination on 19-year-old Nikitta Grender, who was eight months pregnant with a baby girl, revealed she had been stabbed.

Officers from Gwent Police and South Wales Fire Service were called to reports of a blaze in a flat in Broadmead Park in Lliswerry, Newport, at 7.50am on Saturday. Firefighters entered the heavily smoke-logged property and found the body of Ms Grender inside the bedroom of the first floor flat. Her pet dog, a pug cross, also died in the fire. Officers said that the weapon, believed to be a knife, has not yet been found. The scene is still cordoned off and is being examined by forensic teams.

Det Supt Geoff Ronayne called it a "horrific crime where two innocent lives have been lost". He said: "Nikitta was two weeks away from giving birth to a baby girl. This is particularly callous and something we very rarely see. When Nikitta's family should have been looking forward to the birth of her baby they are now absolutely grief stricken."

He said: "We know Nikitta was out with friends Friday evening and visited Macdonalds in the Spytty area during the evening and we are establishing the exact time she was dropped back to her address. But we would urge anyone who was in the vicinity of Nikittas address in 51 Broadmead Park, was with her or who saw her at any stage from 7pm on Friday February 4 onwards to get in touch. Someone must know who did this and we are urging members of the community to come forward and help us with this inquiry." He added it was one of the "worst offences" he had seen. "We are working on the basis that this crime is locally based," he said.

Forensic investigations and house to house enquiries are continuing at this time and specially trained officers continue to support the family. Police would like to appeal for anyone who has any information or for anyone who was in the vicinity of Broadmead Park between 11pm on Friday February 4th and 8am Saturday February 5th to get in touch on 01633 838111 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

OPPORTUNITY TO SEE NEW FRIARS WALK CONCEPT

Feb 6 - Newport residents will be able to see how their city centre could be transformed by a new shopping scheme. Over three weeks, images of the redevelopment vision for John Frost Square area will be displayed in three locations. They show how the multi-million pound Friars Walk project could look - simple, modern, vibrant and of a high quality. Stands with the images and information about the scheme can be seen from

• Monday, 14 February to Saturday, 19 February – Kingsway Centre

• Tuesday, 22 February to Saturday, 26 February – Newport Centre

• Monday, 28 February to Friday, 4 March – The Riverfront

A short list of developers was approved earlier in January and they have been invited to submit tenders for the scheme which is expected to revitalise the city centre.It is anticipated that the council will be in a position to take on a development partner in July. The chosen developer will evolve the concept scheme and submit a planning application for which there will be full and extensive consultation.The council has already put in place much of the groundwork including the compulsory purchase of all the properties in the development area. In the meantime a series of initiatives have been introduced including free parking offers in council-owned car parks as well as Kingsway Centre’s car park. Councillor Matthew Evans, leader of Newport City Council, said: “I would urge everyone to take the opportunity to see what a difference this scheme will make to the city centre. We are doing everything we can to encourage people to shop in Newport and I believe residents will see a huge difference when the Friars Walk vision, along with proposed redevelopment of the Cambrian Centre by the Scarborough Development Group, becomes a reality.”

SELECT COMMITTEE SLAMS PASSPORT OFFICE CLOSURE

Feb 3 - A committee of MPs has criticised the UK government over its plans to close Newport passport office, warning of a "significant" economic impact. The Welsh Affairs Committee urged the government to re-examine the criteria on which the decision was based. The MPs were not convinced savings to the taxpayer would be achieved.

Home Office minister Damian Green said savings needed to be made while still providing a "highly secure and excellent" service. Ministers are consulting over whether to close the office, which employs about 300. The committee said the passport office was the second largest employer in Newport. The report states "We find it extraordinary that no economic impact assessment has to date been published for public scrutiny. We strongly recommend that the government publish the economic impact assessment before a final decision is made and that its findings are fully considered. The government should use the extended consultation period to question again the rationale behind the decision, taking full account of an economic impact assessment. The whole process needs to be presented in the context of a properly thought-through strategy for the IPS in Wales."

Newport City Council has welcomed the committee’s findings especially its conclusion that the rationale for the decision to close the Passport Office is “questionable”. Councillor Matthew Evans, leader of Newport City Council, gave evidence to the Welsh Affairs Committee at its hearing. “I fully support the views expressed by the committee and its call for the government to ensure the concerns raised in the report are taken into account when deciding on the future of the Newport office. We have put forward a strong case for the retention, and even consolidation, of the full service in the city. We must see the results of the Immigration and Passport Service’s economic study urgently."

The Public and Civil Service Union welcomed the report. A PCS spokesman said: "It is time for the government to rethink this vicious attack on the people of Newport. Closing the Newport office will have a massive impact not only on passport office staff and their families but also on the city centre and wider community. Ripping out the second biggest employer from the city centre has massive consequences in an area that has already suffered substantially. According to a report by economic analysts AECOM carried out for Newport City Council an estimated £11 million a year will be lost from the regional economy as a result of the closure and the loss of jobs in the city centre. In addition, £1 million in direct retail expenditure is expected to be lost in the already fragile city centre. There are also fears that £25 million of future employment investment could be at risk.

COUNCIL LOSES BATTLE OVER WHITEHEADS SITE

Jan 30 - Plans for hundreds of homes on an ex-industrial site that the City Council had earmarked for a hospital have been approved by the assembly government. Newport City Council wanted to use the former railway sidings at Maesglas as a new site for the Royal Gwent Hospital. But Network Rail appealed after its bid to build 575 homes did not win backing from the local authority.The council said it would continue to press for the new hospital to be built in the area. Housing Minister Jane Davidson agreed there were no grounds to delay granting a planning permission for the sidings site alone. Newport City Council leader Matthew Evans said: "We believed the site needed to be planned comprehensively with the adjacent Whiteheads site to include a new hospital as well as housing. Despite this decision, we will continue to press for the new hospital to be sited on the Whiteheads site as we strongly believe this is the best option for patients, visitors and staff."

NEWPORT TO BE HIT HARD BY CUTS

Jan 29 - The five British cities set to be worst-hit by the looming Con-Dem public spending cuts are Sunderland, Liverpool, Birkenhead, Swansea and Newport. With the country's 11 largest cities home to more than a third of all private sector jobs, their economic performance will be crucial to government hopes for a private sector recovery to offset the impact of the £81bn of public spending cuts.

But cities such as Liverpool and Sunderland – heavily reliant on public sector employment with lower levels of skills in the workforce – will struggle to cope with the cuts, the Centre for Cities says. At the same time, those that already have vibrant business communities – particularly Milton Keynes, Reading, Aberdeen, Leeds and Bristol – will pull further ahead. According to the Cities Outlook 2011 report, Liverpool has a whopping 19.5 per cent of residents with no qualifications, one of the worst levels in the country. The unemployment count is already running at around 5.9 per cent and an estimated 2.3 per cent of jobs could be lost from the public sector by 2014-15, while the city boasts a bare 214 businesses per 10,000 people. By contrast, Reading's claimant count is running at just 2.2 per cent and it faces only 1.1 per cent job losses in the public sector. While 38 per cent of residents have high-level qualifications, it also has 371 businesses per 10,000 people – both higher than the national average. The impact of welfare spending cuts will also be felt unevenly across the country, according to the report, with Birkenhead set to be worst-affected.

The report states Swansea and Newport “could each directly lose 2.9% of all jobs in their cities”. The paper forecasts up to 12,500 public sector job losses in total in Cardiff, Swansea and Newport if, as expected, 490,000 posts are cut by 2014-15.

A Welsh Assembly spokesperson stated “We are under no illusions that the recovery is far from secured and decisions on public spending will have a huge impact on all parts of Wales. For example, the decision to close the Passport Office in Newport is just one example of how hard Wales could be hit under UK Government spending plans. We believe they are cutting too deep and too fast. When it comes to Swansea and Newport we are using all the powers at our disposal to stimulate job creation. We want to see these cities recover and thrive.”  TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "Vulnerable cities are suffering from low skills and high joblessness that hit consumer spending and business investment, but instead of providing financial support the government is piling on the misery with deep welfare cuts. A meaningful growth strategy from this government is long overdue."

NEWPORT CITY COUNCIL Deputy Leader Ed Townsend (Lib Dem, St Julians)

COMMENT - PROMOTE NEWPORT NOT CARDIFF! Yes, we have a recession and yes, we have a Welsh economy over-reliant on public sector jobs. We also have a Conservative- Liberal Democrat Government hell-bent on massive and un-necessary cuts in public expenditure. Unfortunately, we have also had a Cardiff-centric Welsh Assembly Government that has spent far too little of its time promoting the interests of major regional centres away from Cardiff such as Newport and Swansea. We even have publicly funded organisations promoting the capital potentially at the expense of the rest of Wales. And we need politicians in Newport who spend 24 hours of their day, every day, promoting the interests of Newport rather than our capital city. (See below, the Cardiff &Co website is here.) This is from the LinkedIn (business social networking) website today

MAN ORDERED TO PAY BACK AIRPORT THEFTS

Jan 28 - A man convicted of a series of thefts from Bristol Airport has been ordered to pay the money back. At Bristol Crown Court today (Friday 28 January 2011) a confiscation order was made to the sum of £3,713.41 against Simon Wells, 37, from Newport. The money confiscated is to be paid to Bristol International Airport as compensation for their loss. Wells was convicted in September last year of 11 offences of theft from the Pay on Foot Machines at Bristol International Airport between 18 March and 27 May 2009. The total value of the thefts was £10,160.

ARGUS STAFF 'ASKED TO WEEK'S UNPAID LEAVE'

Jan 28 - Staff working for Newsquest's operation in Wales, Gloucestershire and the south midlands are understood to have been asked to take a week’s unpaid leave to push back the threat of job cuts. Newsquest publishes the South Wales Argus. Press Gazette reports Gavin Steacy, Newsquest’s regional managing director, briefed around 40 staff in Newport yesterday that costs needed to be controlled because of the difficult financial position of the company. Steacy is understood to have asked staff to take an additional week of unpaid holiday in 2011, which would enable the company to guarantee no redundancies before July. A similar briefing is expected at Newsquest's centre in Gloucester later today. Staff fear that up to 30 members of staff across the division could be made redundant if they do not accept two days unpaid leave this quarter, then one in each of the subsequent quarters through the remainder of the year. Newsquest is understood to have committed to pay three months notice to any staff made redundant before September. In return the almost three-year pay freeze would be lifted and a round of pay reviews would begin in April, with Newsquest offering a two per cent rise.

BUILDER KILLED HIMSELF OVER DEBTS

Jan 22 - A builder killed himself with a nailgun because of depression caused by financial difficulties, an inquest has heard. Clifford Crawley, 51, was found unconscious by a friend at a house he was renovating in Newport. He was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. Mr Crawley had struggled to find work and had experienced money troubles as a result, the Newport inquest heard. Verdict: Mr Crawley killed himself while he was depressed. Coroner David Bowen said a post-mortem examination revealed that Mr Crawley had died of "a nail shot wound to his head".

The inquest heard the self-employed builder was a hardworking, quiet man, who had a large circle of friends. But his partner of 14 years told the inquest that Mr Crawley had struggled to find work in the four years leading up to his death and that he experienced financial difficulties as a result.In a statement read out at the inquest, friend Darren Goddard described Mr Crawley as "a hard worker, quite quiet, with a large circle of friends."

STAFF STRIKE OVER EXCESSIVE MONITORING

Jan 22 - Staff at the DWP call centre in Newport have struck over 'excessive monitoring' by management. Katrine Williams, of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) who works in the Newport centre, said staff were being excessively monitored.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said it was "disappointed" that "some staff" had voted to strike.Workers at the sites in Newport, Glasgow, Bristol, Norwich, Sheffield, Makerfield near Wigan and Manchester are taking action after voting in favour of a walkout. The offices are part of a shake-up of Jobcentre Plus services, and have been converted, or are in the process of being converted, into contact centres. Ms Williams, PCS's national negotiator for Jobcentre Plus, said: "The two targets that matter to management are answering the calls and spending as little time as possible on the phone. If a call takes too long, we get somebody telling us to finish the call. What we're saying is we should be able to use our judgement." She said staff were being monitored "every minute of the day", and unable to fully help clients on occasions because they were encouraged to keep phone calls so brief.

PASSPORT OFFICE FIGHT GOES ON

Jan 20 - MPs, AMs, Newport City Council and Newport Unlimited are continuing their efforts to keep the full Passport Office in the city.Since the IPS announced the proposal to close the office last October, the council and the city’s urban regeneration company have put significant work into the case for the retention of the full service in Newport.

Councillor Matthew Evans, leader of the council, and Grant Watson, chairman of Newport Unlimited (NU) both formally wrote last week to the chief executive of the Identity and Passport Service, Sarah Rapson. As well as presenting the case for the service to remain in Newport, they took the opportunity to re-iterate concerns that closure would have an adverse impact on the city as well as the effect on the economy and social structure in neighbouring authorities. In October, Councillor Evans had a face-to-face meeting with the Secretary of State for Wales, Cheryl Gillan, and Immigration Minister Damian Green over the issue. In November, he gave evidence to the Welsh Affairs select committee which was examining the proposal. A detailed written submission was also given to the committee. In the same month, city councillors gave unanimous cross-party support to a motion that the council should continue to lobby the government to ensure the service was fully retained in Newport. A recent study indicated £37 million would be taken out of the Newport economy by the move.

WELSH MEDIUM SCHOOL TO OPEN IN MAINDEE

Jan 20 - A new Welsh Medium Primary School is set to open in Maindee next September. The temporary facility attached to the existing Primary School is required due to the Council's statutory obligation to meet the demands of parents requiring their children to be educated through the Welsh language.

COUNCILLOR URGE WAG RETHINK OVER PORT TAX

Jan 20 - Councillors Peter Davies and Ron Jones are urging the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) to rethink their approach to the re-evaluation of business rates for ports. The 2005 rating list required the separate assessment of dock, port and harbour sites for business rate purposes. Unfortunately, a re-assessment of Newport Docks found many premises were lumped together, a vestige of nationalism, and are now faced with rates bills going back to 2005. A motion at the full Council meeting lodged by Davies and Jones calls for backdated bills to be cancelled by WAG, an approach that has been agreed and followed in England.

UNIVERSITY CAMPUS OPENS

Jan 15 - Newport's City Centre campus opened this week. Students at the University of Wales, Newport are now moving into the £35m centre campus. The riverside building was completed on budget and ahead of schedule at the end of last year.It will house 2,700 students from Newport Business School and much of the school of art's media and design department. Staff worked over the Christmas break to ensure that the facility was ready in time for the start of term.The investment was funded by the university, Newport City Council and the Welsh Assembly Government and is seen as being an important feature of the city centre's regeneration. Part of it is being funded by the selling off of the old Allt-yr-yn campus.

Dr Peter Noyes, Vice Chancellor of the University said: “This is one of the proudest days in the history of the University. Our students and staff at the City Campus will from today be working in some of the most state of the art and specialist facilities in the UK. It complements perfectly the stunning Caerleon Campus and movement between the two campuses will be encouraged for all at University. This building is not just for our students and staff however. Today signals our absolute commitment to the people and communities of Newport and the wider region. This building will act as a driver for economic growth across our region. It belongs as much to the people of South Wales as it does to our students."

DISPERSAL ORDER SUCCESS

Jan 14 - Calls to Police relating to anti-social behaviour in Rogerstone have reduced by 52% since two dispersal orders were introduced in June 2010. The dispersal orders have now been running for six months and cover the areas of Afon Village and Thornbury Park. During this time police received 110 calls reporting anti-social behaviour in these areas.  In the same period in the previous year (8th June – 7th December 2009) police received 231 calls – that’s 121 calls less since the orders were introduced!

The Safer Newport Partnership authorised the implementation of the two dispersal orders, after local residents raised anti-social behaviour as a PACT priority for Rogerstone. Dispersal orders give police officers and PCSO’s the power to direct any person, or vehicle, to leave a specified area.  Anyone who refuses to leave, or returns to the area within 24 hours, when ordered to do so can be arrested under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003.

CITY CENTRE SCHEME MOVES ON

Jan 14 - A multi-million scheme to revitalise Newport city centre has taken an important step forward. Cabinet members have approved a strong shortlist of potential development partners who will now be invited to submit full tenders for the Friars Walk project.

Newport City Council has already acquired all the properties in the John Frost Square area in readiness for the redevelopment. Some of the unoccupied units have been used for the highly successful Empty Shops arts project while others are available for short term leases. The council’s business services team, which offers advice and support to people wishing to set up enterprises, has specific grants available to attract companies to the city centre.

Another redevelopment is also in the pipeline after the Scarborough Development Group was given planning permission to create offices, a flagship supermarket, other shops and car parking in the Cambrian Centre. In the meantime, a number of initiatives are either in place or are being looked at to help boost the number of visitors to Newport city centre. Two hours of free parking at the council-owned multi story car parks is now in operation and a ten pence charge for the first two hours in the council’s pay-and-display car parks will come into force at the end of this month.

CITY CHARITY TO OFFER DRUG USERS INCENTIVE NOT TO GET PREGNANT

Jan 9 - A Newport charity is to offer drug users a financial incentive to have contraceptive implants rather than fall pregnant. According to a report written for the charity by Dr Bernadette Hard, a GP with a special interest in substance misuse, more than 17,500 Welsh children are thought to be adversely affected by parental alcohol problems while around one third of all childcare social work cases involve parental substance misuse at a cost of around £117m a year. Martin Blakeborough of the Kaleidoscope charity told Wales Online "The issue is whether it’s right for the child and right for the mother. If we can help addicts overcome their addictions by providing the best support then what’s to say they can’t become a good parent in the future. But if they have a child while addicted the chances are that child will end up in care and then the guilt they feel is tremendous and it’s very difficult for them to recover from that. It’s also difficult for the children to get back from that start in life.”

Monsignor Canon Bob Reardon, a senior member of the Catholic Church in Wales, told Wales Online the Catholic Church opposed the plan because it went against its moral teachings and perhaps bizarrely he believed it also infringed on the human rights of addicts.He said the idea conflicted with Church’s view that all methods of artificial contraception are morally wrong and that the proposed scheme “infringes on the freedoms of the individual”.

DEPRIVATION STATISTICS REVEAL DIVIDED CITY

Jan 6 - The marked contrast in levels of affluence between different areas of Newport are revealed in an analysis of deprivation and free school meals published by the Council. Three wards in Pilgwenlly rank in the bottom 65 local authority wards in Wales for deprivation based on 2005 figures but perhaps it is the Council's own figures on recipients of free school meals as at January 2010 that provide the most clear picture.  Out of 101 children attending Somerton Primary School 61 receive free school meals (60.4 per cent). Less than a mile away at Eveswell Junior School only 10.9 per cent (38 out of 349) qualify for free school meals. At the more prosperous end of the scale, of 175 attending Glasllwch Primary only 3 receive free school meals (1.7 per cent). At the City's comprehensive schools free school mealentitlement varies between 3.8 per cent of pupils at Caerleon to 43.3 per cent at Duffryn.

Schools with 40 per cent or more of children receiving free school meals - Alway (47.9 per cent), Somerton (60.4), Monnow Primary (42.4), Maesglas Primary (45.0), Malpas Court (41.4), Milton Infant (43.8), Milton Junior (46.9), Ringland (41.6), Duffryn High (43.3), Duffryn Junior (53.9).

Schools with 5 per cent or less receiving free school meals - Glasllwch Primary (1.7 per cent), Caerleon Endowed Infant / Junior (3.1 / 3.4), Caerleon Comp (3.8), Langstone Primary (3.9), Malpas Park (5.0), Marshfield (3.9), Mount Pleasant (2.7).

CINTEC WIN CONTRACT TO SAVE PYRAMID

Jan 5 - A Newport firm has won a lucrative contract to save Egypt's oldest pyramid. The Pyramid of Djoser almost collapsed in 1992 after being hit by an earthquake. According to Daily Mail online, a team from Cintec in Newport has been contracted by the High Council of Egyptian Antiques to rescue the landmark, which is also known as the Step Pyramid.