An agreement has been signed between the University of Wales, Newport and the Opal Group, who specialise in building, owning and managing student accommodation, which will see the University allocate 150 of its students to the flats being built on the banks of the River Usk in Newport City Centre.The University’s Accommodation Manager, Helen Powell, said, “We are delighted that the Nomination Agreement has been signed between the University and Opal.The flats in the new building are very attractively designed to meet the needs of today’s students, with en-suite bedrooms and spacious communal areas – and all within 200 metres of the new City Centre Campus.The University will take an allocation of about half the flats in the building for its students, and with this agreement signed, it means we can now start arranging accommodation for our students in the city centre, for September.This will provide much needed extra accommodation for the thousands of students who are choosing Newport as a place to study, as there has been increasing demand for our existing accommodation on the Caerleon Campus for some years now. It signals a confidence in the University and Newport as a desirable destination for students.” The site for the new City Centre Campus has been prepared and construction will begin at the start of July.
NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING INITIATIVE
Shoppers in Maindee met police officers from their local station this weekend during a day-long roadside surgery. Neighbourhood Policing Teams who patrol the Maindee area joined together on Caerleon Road to meet the public to discuss issues that affect them. Leaflets and other materials containing police advice were available from a mobile police trailer that was set up at the roadside.Dale Morris, a PCSO with St Julian's Neighbourhood Policing Team, believes the event provided an opportunity for people who do not normally attend police surgeries or meetings to meet their local officers.
LABOUR POISED TO LOSE CONTROL OF CITY
Labour's twenty seven year grip on Newport politics is hanging by a thread after yesterday's City Council elections. Six seats are still outstanding in st. Julians and Bettws due to the deaths of candidates. But from the seats declared elsewhere Labour has lost a number of councillors. The Liberal Democrats have gained a seat in Ringland for the first time but it was the Conservatives who gained most taking both seats in Stow Hill, taking two of the three Caerleon seats and snatching a seat from Labour in Malpas. In Langstone former Tory now independent Simon Lane was re-elected along with his Tory rival David Attwell. Controversial candidate Andrew Cooksey sneaked in as a winner in Rogerstone in a closely fought Labour-Tory battle. Labour leader Bob Bright got back in by the skin of his teeth and will be joined by returning hard-hitters Ken Critchley and Allan Morris.The results currently stand as follows -
Labour 19 (-8)
Conservatives 17 (+5)
Liberal Democrats 6 (+3)
Plaid Cymru 1 (no change)
Independent 1 (no change)
In theory Labour can still retain control of the Council if it wins all six remaining seats to be contested. This seems unlikely as they held only three of them last time around. It seems more likely that they will retain the three seats in Bettws but the Liberal Democrats would regard themselves as favourites in St. Julians. If this does happen a combined Lib Dem - Conservative coalition would have a majority. Due to mainly national factors the political landscape has changed dramatically leaving the immediate future of control of the City Council uncertain.
CITY HOUSE PRICE GROWTH SLOWS TO 2 PER CENT
Annual house price growth in Newport has slowed to 2 per cent, according to Land Registry figures. House price figures for sales completed in March 2008 averaged £143,392 compared to £140,608 a year ago. Prices fell by 0.7 per cent when compared to February 2008. The price of a detached property averages £261,891.
NEWPORT PROPERTY PRICES March 2001- March 2008
March 2001 £62,232
March 2002 £69,447 (11.4 per cent increase)
March 2003 £87,518 (26.0 per cent)
March 2004 £107,120 (22.4 per cent)
March 2005 £124,880 (16.6 per cent)
March 2006 £130,983 (4.9 per cent)
March 2007 £140,608 (7.3 per cent)
March 2008 £143,392 (2.0 per cent)
TORY WAR OF WORDS CONTINUES IN LANGSTONE
The acrimony concerning the Conservative and Independent campaigns in Langstone has come to the fore in the City Council elections. Sitting councillors David Attwell and Simon Lane have exchanged metaphorical blows in a very personal campaign. Lane was given the order of the boot from Newport's Conservative Group. He has responded with strongly worded criticism of his fellow Langstone councillor (see story April 7). Attwell has now replied with details of his voting record, comparing it favourably to Lane's and a defence of his record as a councillor. City elections take place on May 1.
MAN DIES AT NEWPORT FACTORY
50 year old man from the Wolverhampton area was pronounced dead at the scene of an accident at Sims Metal UK Ltd, Alexandra Dock, Newport, on Apr 28. Next of kin have been informed. Police and the Health and Safety Executive are investigating the circumstances.
NEWPORT SPEEDWAY PROMOTER IS DEAD
The man who singlehandedly brought speedway back to Newport, Tim Stone, has died after a heart attack. The shocking news led to the cancellation of today's fixture between Newport Wasps and Rye House Rockets at Queensway Meadows. Stone dedicated the best part of the last ten years to the revival of speedway following on from its previous incarnation at Somerton Park (1964-1977). He took out a long lease with the Welsh Development Agency on the site of the stadium near Llanwern Steelworks. While the new Wasps have enjoyed more downs than ups they have still enjoyed some successes and their mere existence is a tribute to his commitment and perserverence. Increasingly, the running of the club at every level had become Stone's responsibility. But as he readily acknowledged Newport are a pretty unique club with their own stadium. His passion for speedway included numerous winter training schools, an annual New Year Classic and a determination to develop and assist young speedway riders.
COUNTY FANS RESPOND TO CYNICAL POLICE CAMPAIGN
Newport County fans have reacted strongly to a newspaper story targetting alleged 'hooligan' behaviour at their game at Ninian Park in February. South Wales Police are making the allegation stating that their officers were subject to stone throwing and troublemaking behaviour. By contrast, most County fans at the game witnessed appalling and cynical police behaviour particularly at the end of the game when mounted police and police with dogs charged at Newport supporters including children. To the Newport fans attending the game the police behaved in an over zealous and uncontrolled way. Our reporter at the game stated "Outside the ground police opened up their batons on the Newport fans as the escort was about to start. Several fans were wounded and felt it was unnecessary resulting in a charge at the police by about 50 or so Newport lads, more baton wielding commenced". Unfortunately, news outlets like the Argus and Echo have chosen to ignore the mal-treatment of County fans and the inappropriate policing of the event in what is supposed to be our capital city. It's much easier to trot out police propaganda and characterise fans as hooligans.
NOW BETTWS CITY POLL CANCELLED
Following the death of Labour Councillor Lloyd Delahaye this week, the election in Bettws will be postponed. Councillor Delahaye was the council’s cabinet member for public affairs and was standing as a candidate in the Bettws ward.The City Council will now be writing to all electors in Bettws informing them that the election on May 1 is cancelled and a new election will be called in due course.
AMPHETAMINES FOUND IN FREEZER
Newport Police have found £800 of amphetamine drugs in the freezer of an Alway home. Alway Neighbourhood Policing Team found the drugs after executing a drugs warrant at an address in Mount Bax yesterday. A 28-year-old woman was arrested for possession of controlled drugs with an intention to supply. She has since been bailed while she continues to help officers with their enquiries.
NEWPORT SHIP OPEN DAY
The next Newport Ship Open Day will be on Saturday 26 April, from 11am-4pm. In addition to being able to talk to the international team working on the Newport Ship visitors will be able to interact with re-enactors and find out all of the latest information about this exciting project. The ship has now been cleaned and recorded and organisers are now moving on to the next phase of the project
CITY DEVELOPMENTS UPDATE
City planners have the go ahead for the demolition of the King public house on Somerton Road to make way for a residential development. The building is derelict and a target for vandals. The former pub was originally known as the King of Prussia and was a popular venue prior to big games at the old football ground at Somerton Park.
Pizza Express has advertised in tonight's Argus for a premises licence for its new restaurant in Friar's Walk where work is yet to start!
Asda Living will open its door to the general public on April 28 at the Newport Retail Park. The first show home for City Vizion, the riverside development near Rodney Parade will be available to view from May 2.
ANOTHER CANNABIS FACTORY UNCOVERED
A tip-off from members of the public led police to uncover a large-scale cannabis factory at a Newport house today. The house in Cardiff Road, Maesglas, was full of mature cannabis plants that were almost ready for harvesting. Officers discovered the cannabis factory at 1.30am on Tuesday after responding quickly to calls reporting suspicious behaviour around the property. Two ground floor rooms and two upstairs bedrooms were filled with more than 400 cannabis plants. The house's electricity supply had been bypassed to power thousands of pounds worth of hydroponics, lighting and venting equipment. Police estimate the street value of the cannabis seized is around £70,000.
TASTE OF EDEN AT FRIARS WALK
Modus, owners of Friar's Walk, are advertising the new restaurant quarter at the proposed city centre mall. Eden is situated near the Vue cinema in the development and already includes Nandos, Pizza Express and Las Iguanas. The start of the new development has been delayed due to the withdrawal of part of the finance by a leading bank.
MANY CITY SCHOOLS TO BE HIT BY STRIKE
Many of Newport's 64 schools are affected in some way by Thursday's industrial action called by the National Union of Teachers. Some schools have been forced to school due to insufficient available non-NUT staff. For example, Milton, Monnow, St Julians Junior, Langstone and St. Mary's RC are closed all day while Duffryn High is only open to sixth formers. Some schools like Lliswerry High and St. Joseph's RC are open as normal.
