Latest news with #NewportNow
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Pop-up picnic park disrupts popular Parkrun in Newport
A pop-up picnic park in Newport's Riverfront area has unintentionally disrupted the city's popular Saturday Parkrun, drawing concern from runners and community supporters. 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
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
22-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Newport Now gift card now available in digital format
The Newport Now gift card, designed to encourage spending in Newport city centre, is now available in a digital format, allowing shoppers to pay using their phones at participating businesses. Kevin Ward, manager of Newport Now BID, said: "This new digital offer is a great addition to our popular gift card scheme. "We know some businesses, particularly smaller ones, prefer contactless payments and today's launch means this will suit their needs and we think more local shops, bars, cafes and restaurants will sign up to accept the card as a result. "Buying and sending a digital Newport Now gift card couldn't be simpler and we hope to see more people backing city centre traders, the majority of whom are small independents." Launched in 2017 by the Newport Now Business Improvement District, the scheme has seen more than 1,500 cards sold, generating at least £40,000 of spending in the city centre. The digital card can be sent instantly via email or text and added to digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay using the free Love Local app. Recipients can then use their phone to 'tap to pay' at participating businesses. The cards can be spent at more than 40 city centre outlets, including both national chains and independent shops. Businesses and organisations can also send digital cards to staff, customers, or clients. The physical card remains available for those who prefer a traditional option. The scheme is run in partnership with technology firm Miconex. Colin Munro, CEO of Miconex, said: "Digital gift cards overtook physical gift cards in popularity for the first time in 2024. "People want the ability to instantly send a gift card to friends, family and staff members that they can add to digital wallets – and that's what they can do with the new digital Newport Now gift card. "The digital version of the card means supporting local in Newport is easier than ever, particularly as a way for organisations to easily reward their staff, and provide a tangible boost to the Newport economy at the same time." Both the digital and physical versions of the Newport Now gift card can be bought at:
