Regeneration company Newport Unlimited has commissioned an urgent study in to the site and design of the proposed Llanwern railway station. The £45,000 study must be carried out now by Network Rail in order to ensure the new station is included on a local line forming part of the upgraded South Wales main line. The upgrade will take place in 2012-13. Progress is now being made on the delivery of a new suburb for eastern Newport including development applications in the Eastern Expansion Area at Llanwern Village [1,100 houses, primary school and community centre] and Corus Llanwern Regeneration Site [a 4,000 phased housing
development, two primary schools, village centre and 100 acres of employment]. Both applications have been approved subject to a Section 106 Agreement which contains commitments to major off-site infrastructure and public transport facilities. The Master Plan also includes the provision of a new local railway station with
associated Park and Ride facilities, to provide the focus of the integrated transport framework.
URGENT STUDY IN TO NEW RAIL STATION
BUS STAND DEMOLISHED BY STAGECOACH SERVICE
Stand 8 at Newport Bus Station was demolished by a Stagecoach bus on Friday evening. The bus was supposed to be reversing when it jolted forward and destroyed the glass stand. Passengers were transferred to an alternative service. The incident is currently being investigated.
CAMPAIGN TO SAVE BETTWS SCHOOL BUILDING
C20, the Twentieth Century Society, is campaigning to save the present 1972 Bettws comprehensive school building. Newport City Council has announced plans to replace it with a new building, work should start later this year. The campaign is not expected to attract much local support. Paul Flynn MP commented on his website "The children nicknamed the design as ‘Colditz’. Both the Director of Education and, as far as I know, all the teachers at the school found its design impractical, ugly and inimical to the education process." Mar 3 - Following a local campaign the new school will include the word 'Bettws', it will be known as Newport High School, Bettws Lane.
TAX OFFICE CLOSURE CONFIRMED
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) says it will vacate its buildings in Newport, central Cardiff and Pontypridd in 2009, relocating staff to Llanishen, Cardiff. Its Llanelli office and the Custom House in Swansea will also be closed, with staff moved to operations at HMRC's Ty Nant building in Swansea. Despite a vociferous campaign the decision is a blow to Newport.The Newport East MP Jessica Morden describes the move as "shameful". "This is terrible news for the whole of Newport but this is not the end of the line. We will continue to fight for the services by appealing this decision." Newport East AM, John Griffiths added: "I am bitterly disappointed that this decision has been made. It is important to retain these jobs to ensure Newport continues to be a thriving city of opportunity for all." One hundred and forty workers are employed at the Newport office near Clarence Place , following their relocation only an enquiry office will remain in the city
ARGUS CIRCULATION FALLS AGAIN
Circulation of the South Wales Argus, the main evening newspaper in Newport, has fallen again. Figures from the Audit Bureau for Circulation for July to December 2007show a fall of 1.3 per cent in total sales. Average sales in the period were 28,457
The Express and Star, in Wolverhampton, continues to be the UK's biggest selling regional paper with daily figures of 138,780, followed in second place by the Liverpool Echo with 106,401. Wales' biggest selling daily is the South Wales Evening Post, in Swansea, with a circulation of 51,329.
WATER PLANT UPGRADE WILL CREATE JOBS
Newport water management solutions provider Asset International has announced plans to invest more than £2m into new technology and facilities and create job opportunities as part of its ambitious growth plans for 2008.A sset, which is part of UK-based infrastructure, building and construction products group Hill & Smith, will open a new production line and fabrication bay at its plant on Stephenson Street in June this year, creating 20 new jobs
