A police raid on a Newport house uncovered a large-scale cannabis factory today. The house in Handel Close, off Hendre Farm Drive, Ringland, was full of both mature and sapling cannabis plants. Police believe the raid uncovered the biggest ever cannabis factory in Ringland and is the first of 2008 in Newport. Around 30 cannabis factories were found in the city last year.
Alway Neighbourhood Policing Team executed a drugs warrant at a rented three-bedroomed terraced property at 9.10am on Tuesday as part of an ongoing operation. A large downstairs lounge area and two upstairs bedrooms were filled with 292 mature cannabis plants. Around 500 sapling cannabis plants were discovered in the third bedroom used as a nursery. An electrician from Swalec who accompanied officers established the house had not been booby-trapped, although the electricity meter had been bypassed to power thousands of pounds worth of hydroponics equipment.
Police estimate the street value of cannabis grown in the three-bedroom house would total around £150,000 per year. One 39 year old man was arrested at the scene and has been detained while officers conduct further investigations. Another man, also aged 39, was later arrested and is also helping police with their enquiries
HUGE CANNABIS HAUL IN RINGLAND
CITY PLANNERS CONSIDER INTERCHANGE PLAN
Newport City Council planners have published details of the planning proposal from Hyder Consulting for a new interchange from the A449 near the Coldra to the Celtic Manor Resort. The new slip road will run to the east of Abernant Farm on Bulmore Road in Caerleon. Other plans currently under consideration include a new Arcadia Group store on Newport Retail Park and the long awaited redevelopment of the Kings Hotel in Somerton
WELCOME FOR SPRING CLEANING SCHEMES
Community projects are celebrating winning extra funds to give Newport an early spring clean thanks to the Welsh Assembly Government. Local AM John Griffiths has welcomed Welsh Environment Minister Jane Davidson’s announcement of over £79,000 for three vital local schemes.
The RASCAL (Regeneration Association Somerton Community at Large) scheme is set to benefit from £50,000, which will help support a purpose built community facility in Somerton. The venue will deliver a regeneration programme on the Somerton estate and help tackle anti-social behaviour through a comprehensive social and education programme for young people and the wider community. The Echo Community Group will receive £15,000 to support a feasibility study, addressing issues such as street access, rubbish problems, poor surfaces and cluttered pavements. And the Bettws Tenants and Residents Assoc will obtain over £14,000 for greater community involvement in maintenance of the local environment. Funding will help purchase equipment and CCTV for the local shopping area.
CHRISTMAS CARD RECYCLING BOOST
Over 650,000 Christmas cards have been saved from landfill thanks to a schools recycling competition, run by Newport City Council.Enthusiastic pupils from 40 schools took part to help tackle the thousands of tonnes of extra rubbish created over the festive period. Durham Road Junior School was crowned the winner after collecting an astonishing 66,548 cards – resulting in an average of 199 cards per pupil. The school will receive a prize of £200.
With one tree being worth 2,500 cards, the school children of Newport have effectively saved over 260 trees.
RINGLAND COMMUNITY CENTRE REFURB
Ringland Community Centre is set to be transformed, after Newport City Council’s Cabinet agreed to pursue a funding package worth more than £440,000 which will result in a massive refurbishment of the building. For a number of years, Ringland Community Association (RCA) has raised money for the Phoenix Centre at the derelict Spencer Boys Club, supported by the Council.
However, following a spate of vandalism including an arson attack which caused substantial damage to the roof, the building was found to be structurally unstable.
Because of this, the council and RCA have decided to concentrate efforts to upgrade and improve the facilities
