Latest news with #NewportCityCouncil
South Wales Argus
6 hours ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Rogerstone Community Council addresses 'misrepresented' dog
The council clarified that the dog involved was not a banned breed, and no control order was in place, as per the police. This was just one of several issues the council addressed at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Tydu Community Hall on June 4. South Wales Police officers attended the meeting to provide updates and discuss ongoing issues, including anti-social behaviour and drug-related concerns at Ty Du View, Tudor Crescent, and High Cross Open Space. There are now plans to install a gate at Tudor Crescent to deter misuse by electric bike riders, with the gate intended to be compliant with disability access standards. Other matters discussed at the AGM included the future management of community allotments. The council is moving towards a tenant-led self-management model, and a meeting with interested tenants took place before the council's July meeting to discuss the next steps. The council also expressed frustration at the ongoing delay in feedback from Newport City Council regarding the Local Development Plan (LDP). Despite submitting comments more than 18 months ago on candidate sites affecting Rogerstone, no formal response has yet been received. The council was informed that a revised timeline is pending discussions with the Welsh Government. In other planning matters, the council voted to appeal Newport's refusal of a planning application for a gazebo at the Welfare Grounds. The council will request that the application be reviewed at committee level rather than through delegated decision-making. The council also began preparations for the 2025 Remembrance Sunday events, and the annual schools competition deadline was extended to allow participation from Rogerstone Primary School. Members also discussed the continuation of the Sally Mlewa Award. In terms of governance and financial oversight, the council approved the 2024/25 annual accounts, an annual return and internal audit report, and an annual report, which is now available on the council's website. The council is also in discussions with Newport City Council to include Rogerstone's open spaces in the city's updated Public Spaces Protection Order, expected later in 2025. The council agreed to add weed control at the Scout Hut to the groundsman's routine. Co-option interviews for new councillors are planned for September following strong resident interest. The next full meeting of the council is scheduled for Wednesday, September 3, in the council chambers at Tydu Community Hall, Welfare Grounds, Tregwilym Road, Rogerstone. The meeting was chaired by Councillor Larcombe and was attended by members and local residents, many of whom observed following a pre-meeting session on the responsibilities of community councillors. The meeting provided an opportunity for residents to engage with the council and discuss issues affecting the community. The council continues to work on behalf of the residents of Rogerstone to ensure the community remains a safe and pleasant place to live.
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- General
- South Wales Argus
Plans to revamp Tredegar House play area submitted
Tredegar House's existing play park, which no longer meets modern safety or accessibility standards, is set to be revamped according to a proposal submitted by the National Trust. The new facility aims to enhance visitor experiences, support inclusive access, and align with heritage sensitivities. The current equipment, which has reached the end of its life, will be replaced with new, sustainable materials, providing accessible play for children of various abilities. The park will remain in its current location within the grounds of the Grade II* registered historic park and garden of Tredegar House—a Grade I listed 17th-century mansion. The site, partly screened by mature planting and adjacent to informal lawn areas, is noted for its good access and natural surveillance. The existing play area, while modest and visually unobtrusive, is deteriorated and lacks accessibility features. The proposal aligns with national and local planning policies. These include Future Wales – The National Plan 2040, which emphasises placemaking, historic preservation, green infrastructure, and recreational spaces, and Planning Policy Wales, which stresses the importance of sustainable development and well-being, particularly in relation to historic environments. The Newport Local Development Plan, which spans from 2011 to 2026, also supports the proposal. The plan's policies focus on the conservation of natural, historic, and built environments, the protection of registered historic landscapes and gardens, safeguarding land for recreation and play, and the protection of biodiversity and the natural environment. To preserve the historic character of the site, the equipment has been selected to reflect the character of the gardens. The low-impact, context-sensitive design avoids interference with key sightlines and preserves mature planting. The proposal is considered to have a "neutral to low impact" on heritage assets, offering public benefit in inclusive access and site engagement. The National Trust is seeking planning permission and listed building consent for the project. The decision now rests with Newport City Council, the planning authority overseeing the application. The application was submitted on July 15 and is awaiting a final decision from the council.
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Viral video shows rubbish dumped into River Usk, Newport
The footage, posted on Facebook on July 26, shows a woman emptying a large carrier bag of waste directly into the river. The fly-tipping incident happened in broad daylight, along a section of the river in the city centre and near Newport's Riverfront Theatre. Newport City Council has condemned the act of fly-tipping, describing it as "a blight on the environment and communities." The council has confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway, and Natural Resources Wales, along with Fly-Tipping Action Wales, have been informed. The rubbish that was dumped in the river in the video (Image: Supplied) A spokesperson for Newport City Council said: "[[Newport City Council]] is investigating the incident and has informed NRW and Fly-Tipping Action Wales. "We absolutely condemn fly-tipping as it is a blight on the environment and communities. "There is no excuse for it. "A wide range of items that can be recycled are collected weekly from people's homes in the city." The council also highlighted their efforts in combating fly-tipping in the city, stating a significant increase in enforcement action and a reduction in incidents. They urged residents to report any instances of illegally dumped waste through their website or by calling 01663 656656. Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, said in an official Cabinet statement: "Littering and fly-tipping is a blight on our communities. "It costs money to remove and damages our environment. "Yet it is completely avoidable, and everyone stands to gain from a clean and safe environment. He continued: "We are working with communities, businesses, organisations, and local authorities to provide cleaner and greener natural spaces to improve people's mental and physical well-being." Mr Irranca-Davies also mentioned the legislative efforts to curb the issue, including the introduction of The Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (Wales) Regulations 2024 and The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wet Wipes) (Wales) Regulations 2025. He added: "Whilst legislation can provide an effective deterrent, it cannot operate in isolation. "We continue to provide grant funding to partners such as Keep Wales Tidy and Fly-tipping Action Wales, who work with organisations and communities to help educate and encourage positive behavioural change." Fly-tipping Action Wales is working in conjunction with local authorities to improve the quality and robustness of the annual data published on Stats Wales. This initiative aims to give local authorities a better understanding of the types of incidents occurring, so they can work with communities to target specific hotspots. There was a variety of rubbish dumped into the river (Image: Supplied) The Deputy First Minister further stated the importance of enforcement action, acknowledging its complexity and challenges. He said: "Fly-tipping Action Wales continue to support local authorities with their investigations, including providing access to free legal advice from specialist environmental lawyers and offering dedicated enforcement officer support." The council's crackdown on fly-tipping extends beyond mere enforcement. In 2024, Keep Wales Tidy was funded to develop a new litter survey methodology. The Geospatial Litter Analysis (GLN) tool expands on the existing litter data and monitoring system to better reflect the scale and scope of litter and related issues. So far this year, an area greater than 1 million metres squared has been surveyed. Keep Wales Tidy has also been instrumental in supporting community groups, with 1,334 registered litter champions and 245 litter hubs. Their initiatives aim to improve the local environment and encourage others to take action. The ongoing efforts highlight the importance of preventing the illegal disposal of waste in the first place. In 2024-25, Keep Wales Tidy worked with local authorities on more than 500 occasions on practical improvements to local neighbourhoods. The forums helped identify litter and fly-tipping hotspots, leading to targeted clean-ups and local campaigns. The council believes that consistent collaboration with local authorities, businesses, private landowners, third sector organisations, and communities is laying the foundations for preventing littering and fly-tipping in Wales.
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Newport City Council 'thoughtless' over Parkrun cancellation
The temporary installation overlaps the Parkrun starting line, leading to the cancellation of this week's event and raising uncertainty about future runs until the site is removed in early September. The park was part of a city centre enhancement led by Newport Now, in partnership with the local council. While the area is intended for residents to enjoy outdoor leisure, its placement has prompted frustration over perceived lack of planning and consultation. Runners have voiced disappointment, citing the mental and physical benefits Parkrun brings to hundreds of participants each week. There are also concerns that relocating runners could lead to unnecessary car travel and higher carbon emissions. Organiser Simon Cawthorn described the move as thoughtless and called on Newport Council to reconsider the setup. He urged the importance of protecting community-driven fitness initiatives that contribute to public health and cohesion. He said: "Hundreds of people get health and mental benefits from the Parkrun, this action by the council is thoughless and selfish, they have not used due consideration when setting this up and will bring disappointment to hundreds of people, not to mention the impact on the environment when all these runners have to get in their cars and drive to different locations to do their weekly Parkrun." Despite the setback, both Newport Now and Parkrun representatives remain optimistic. Discussions are underway to find a workable solution before next weekend's event. The site, while temporarily reconfigured, is part of a much larger public space that regularly accommodates festivals and activities. With some route adjustments or revised layout, it is believed the pop-up park and Parkrun can coexist. For Simon Cawthorn, the situation highlights the need for better coordination between event planners and community organisers. Newport City Council says it remains committed to finding a solution. A spokesman said, 'The Riverfront Parkrun is a welcome addition to the city centre activities. We want it to continue and believe it can be accommodated even with the temporary pop-up park in place as there is a lot of space around it.' Meanwhile, the picnic area was a big hit with Jayden, his twin sister Ellie, and their friend Kylen-Jay. Asked if they were bothered about disrupting the Parkrun, Ellie smiled and said, 'No! This is more fun.' Their dad, Lee, enthused, 'We came from the cinema and found this — the kids love it.'
South Wales Argus
6 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Frustrating delays in transfer of Newport community centre
City council officials said they would 'learn from' the matter and had sought specialist training to help it get to grips with the relatively new process. Ward councillor Matthew Pimm told a scrutiny committee plans for the future of Eveswell Community Centre faced 'lots of hold-ups'. The site is subject of an ongoing Community Asset Transfer (CAT) – a legal process through which local authorities can hand over surplus or unwanted buildings and other assets to interested community groups or organisations. In this case, a proposed deal would pass Eveswell Community Centre to a charity, Toc H, which already runs activities and workshops there. A 25-year lease has previously been suggested for the CAT arrangements. Speaking at a Newport City Council scrutiny meeting, on Monday July 21, Cllr Pimm said the process had involved 'delays' and 'quite a bit of confusion' for those involved. He urged officers to 'speed it up' and suggested the CAT process 'needs to be as straightforward as possible'. Delays had 'made life quite difficult in terms of planning ahead [for] when we take over the asset'. Tracy McKim – the council's head of people, policy and transformation – said the local authority had 'accepted all along' the Eveswell Community Centre CAT is 'something we need to learn from'. The council has worked with Gwent third-sector umbrella organisation GAVO and an 'external provider' to improve its use of CATs, the committee heard. Ms McKim added she believed the transfer of Eveswell Community Centre would be 'a real positive outcome when we get it over the line'. Rhian Howells, the cabinet member for assets and infrastructure, said the early work on CATs would help the council with 'accruing knowledge', and 'going forward we will be able to do it better'. Speaking later in the meeting, Cllr Pimm said the community group involved in the Eveswell CAT process had 'nearly lost out on our funding… because of the delays'. 'A lot needs to be learned', he said, adding it was 'soul destroying… waiting for something to happen'.
