A social worker has accepted £7,000 in compensation from Newport City council after a young offender sprayed oven cleaner in her face. Rudi Meszaros, 33, was temporarily blinded and suffered chemical damage to her eyes in the attack at Cambridge House care home, Newport in 2004. Miss Meszaros, of County Durham, said chemical cleaners were not locked away despite a previous incident. Newport Council said it took health and safety issues "very seriously".
SAFER PUBS AND CLUBS CAMPAIGN UNDER WAY
A new initiative to help make the Newport’s pubs and clubs safer will be launched on Tuesday 19 February at the Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre.The Best Bar None Award will be awarded to businesses with a commitment to social responsibility and the safety of people using their premises. It is hoped that all pubs and clubs in the city centre, Bassaleg, Rogerstone, Rhiwderin and Caerleon will sign-up for the scheme, which will work to cut down alcohol-related crime and irresponsible drinking. The scheme, which will be expanded to other areas of the city in the future, and aims among other objctives to reduce the risk of alcohol related harm, disorder and crime.
NEWPORT BUS CHANGES TO BE INTRODUCED
In advance of Newport city centre’s proposed shopping centre and bus station redevelopment, from Monday 18 February some bus services will commence and terminate at on-street bus stops.Service 1/1A/1C Newport to Rogerstone and Service 17 Newport to Foxgloves operated by Newport Bus, currently departing from Stand 15, will commence and terminate at Market Square, Stand SA. Service 11A/11B/11C/11X Newport to Gaer operated by Newport Bus, currently departing from Stand 14, will commence and terminate at Market Square, Stand SB. Service 50 Newport to Bargoed operated by Stagecoach in South Wales, currently departing from Stand 13, will commence and terminate at Market Square, Stand SC. ervice R1, R3 and R6 Newport to Risca and Service 56 Newport to Tredegar operated by Stagecoach in South Wales, currently departing from Stands 5 and 7, will commence and terminate at Market Square, Stand SD. Service 151 Newport to Blackwood operated by Stagecoach in South Wales, currently departing from Stand 6, will commence and terminate at Market Square, Stand SE. In a statement on their website Newport Transport otherwise known as Newport Bus state "this move is forced upon us by the changes to the Bus Station being made as part of the redevelopment works. We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our customers." All the Newport bus services affected by the change will stop at Stow Hill (near Commercial Street) then terminate at Market Square / Upper Dock Street. When they re-start they will call call at Queensway (opposite Newport railway station) before carrying on to their destinations.
PLANNERS RECOMMEND APPROVAL FOR NEW CITY SCHEMES
City planning officers are recommending approval for two new innovative schemes aimed at further boosting the city's profile. Mint Blue Properties are proiposing the development of the City Cinema into a Travelodge Hotel providing much needed budget hotel accommodation in the city centre. The proposals envisage 62 hotel rooms, businesses in the lower deck of the building including the very popular China China will be unaffected by the development. The new Modus shopping centre will include a new eight screen cinema. A number of hotels are being built in the city centre, two are linked to the Friar's Walk and City Spires schemes respectively. A Ramada Encore Hotel is also being built as part of the Old Town Dock redevelopment.
Planning officers are also recommending approval for a gateway development from Collingbourne Properties linked to Penmaen Wharf in the Docks area. The proposal includes 160 apartments and a booking office linked to the pleasure boat / steamer service between Newport, Penarth and the West Country.
COUNCIL SLAMS POST OFFICE CLOSURES
Newport City Council has criticised all intended Post Office closures in the city as part of the consultation process on the proposals. There has been considerable anger expressed regarding the proposals with vociferous opposition particularly regarding the planned closure of Christchurch Road and West Park Post Offices. The suggested alternative Post Office for Christchurch Road residents is Cross Hands on Chepstow Road. The Council objection states that while the Post Office has applied nationally agreed criteria to the closure plan it fails to acknowledge local characteristics. So with respect to Christchurch Road "The steep hill between the two branches and the absence of public transport links represents an inconvenient alternative" for the branch catchment of 29,957. With respect to West Park and Malpas Road it states "The alternative branches now proposed at Gaer Park and in the City Centre at Bridge Street, are not realistic given the distance from the branch and the varied and partly steeply sloping terrain. This relates in particular to the Bridge Street option. The closure of this branch will remove a Post Office service from a large area stretching from the City Centre to the M4 motorway along the Risca Road/Stow Hill radial route, an estimated catchment population of 22,170 people. The closure of the Post Offices at 19, Malpas Road and West Park will leave an area between the River Usk, the M4 Motorway and Stow Hill/ Risca Road with a combined population of 33,477 without a convenient Post Office service." It also objects to closure of the Penhow Post Office and its likely impact on the local economy and community The alternative outreach service and distance to alternative branches are likely to be unacceptable to existing customers.Also, the existing branch is located in the village shop which could close if the existing Post Office trade is diverted elsewhere. The closure of the branch will have an effect on the local economy and the village community through the possible closure of the local shop."
Jessica Morden MP presented a petition to the House of Commons on February 7 requesting that the Christchurch Road Post Office be saved stating that its closure "would have a detrimental effect on customers who are elderly or disabled who would be unable to access other Post Office services." Local politicians of all persuasions have joined the campaign to save the post office.
REPAIRS NOTICE ISSUED ON LAWNS CLUB
The ongoing battle between the owner of the Kensington Lawns Club and Newport City Council has reached a new stage. The City Council has now issued a Repairs Notice under planning enforcement regulations requiring the owner to take action to make the building safe and to improve its condition as a matter of urgency.
Beechwood Liberal Democrat Councillors have welcomed the news that a repairs notice has been served on the owner of the Lawns Club in Kensington Place/Grove.
Commenting on the decision, Cllr David Hando said: "At long last, the owners have been ordered by the Council to repair and restore the neglected building. This is a statutory notice that work must be undertaken.If the work is not done, the Council have confirmed that they are at an advanced stage to proceed with a Compulsory Purchase Order on the building. This will mean ownership will be passed to another organisation/individual who will carry out the restoration of the building."
11, Kensington Grove is described as an Italianate villa. It is also a grade ll listed building that is at extreme risk due to neglect and decay. In recent years the condition of the building has deteriorated rapidly and despite Planning and Listed Building Consents having been granted for the conversion of the building to two dwellings the owners allowed the condition of the building to continue to decline. In 2007 an application for the demolition of 11 Kensington Place was refused and a subsequent appeal against this decision was dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate
CHANDLERY CHEF CLAIMS RUNNER-UP PRIZE
Carl Hammett claimed the runner up prize in the final of National Chef of Wales in Rhos-on-Sea, Conwy. The 36 year old sous chef from the Chandlery fought it out for the title with three other chefs from around Wales. The £2,000 prize went to Neil Roberts, of the Waggon and Horses in Newtown, Powys.
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