Big Bang Clears the Way for Friars Walk to Begin
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JNanuarey 201w4 pThe officiral ntew spaMper ofa Newtpotrt Ceity Crous ncil Big bang clears the way Inside... for Friars Walk to begin New jobs coming to city Going...going...gone. The Capitol car park was demolished earlier this month to make way for the new Friars Walk. Newport’s Capitol car park was development will begin shortly. second period. disruption for local businesses and the demolished earlier this month by “The car park has been standing Cuddy managing director, Mike surrounding community and have a controlled explosion. for more than 30 years in the city but Cuddy, was delighted that everything ensured there has been ongoing Newport City Council cabinet it is important that we now look had gone exactly to plan, he said: consultation at every stage in our ahead to the next exciting chapter of "Demolition is a very serious business planning and preparation. I am New wardens on member for infrastructure, Councillor patrol Ken Critchley, said: “Friars Walk has the city’s history.” and safety is always the number one delighted that the explosion went officially started with a bang with the Experts from Cuddy Group drilled priority. It may only take a second or according to plan and that the clean explosion of the capitol car park. The 750 holes in strategic positions all over two for the building to fall but the down programme can now begin in removal of the car park represents a six floors of the car park. A charge was amount of preparation and co- earnest." significant stage in the demolition inserted into each hole, over 35kg of ordination that goes into an event like The debris from the car park will programme and construction of the detonating cord explosive in all, and today is vast. now be cleared and construction work eagerly awaited Friars Walk delay detonators set off over a one “We were keen to ensure minimal on Friars Walk will start shortly. City centre regeneration projects making a big difference Several major city centre bus terminus in Upper Dock Street Walk development. of Newport Market. regeneration projects were just behind the market and it is While work takes place on the The £1million project, funded scheme, bus services will continue by Newport Unlimited, refurbished completed or took major steps expected that this will be used by New year forward in Newport last year between two and three million to operate from temporary stops the foyer and units in this part of gym offer and 2014 is set to see more passengers a year. around the city centre. the grade-two listed building. A exciting projects and It will eventually link with Mayor Councillor Cliff Suller new central entrance was created developments taking shape. another new terminus being also officially opened the flanked by smart new units topped Buses are now using the new constructed as part of the Friars transformed High Street entrance by brightly coloured canopies. Flood scheme for 700 Newport homes Late last year, parts of the UK flood schemes and flood Most recently, properties in the area. experienced the worst coastal warnings saved many from the Crindau were flooded by a tidal surge For more information on flood flooding for 60 years. devastating impacts of flooding. that came very close to affecting defence work in Newport, see the Fortunately, improvements to hundreds of homes and business in full story on page 9. Focus on Communities First Recycle for Newport – pop me in your blue recycling box Changing face of city centre Here are a selection of images showing work to transform the city centre in readiness for Friars Walk. City centre businesses open Businesses in and around Friars Street, Austin Friars, Corn John Frost Square, Street and Llanarth Street – as well as including shops, cafes, those parts of John Frost Square and Upper Dock Street which are not part solicitors and banks, are of the redevelopment area – are still trading as usual while work accessible from Commercial Street. on the new Friars Walk A safe route to Newport Centre is shopping and leisure available via Corn Street and along Kingsway. scheme takes place. New jobs on the y way in Newport t Work is progressing on a Newport can be very proud.” The reclamation of the Old Town i brand new pub and restaurant in Newport that will Dock was one of the first projects undertaken by Newport Unlimited c create 40 new jobs. when it was formed in 2003. Since Located in the Old Town Dock area then, the area has been transformed the pub and restaurant will offer with a £200 million redevelopment g quality fresh beer and value for money programme, including residential authentic fresh pub food. The pub is developments and a riverside park. In as yet unnamed but will seat 180 June, proposals were revealed by the n diners. developer Sennybridge to transform the i Newport Unlimited, Newport’s area into a sustainable suburb urban regeneration company, including new retail, leisure and office g facilitated the sale of the site. Paul space as well as a health centre, houses Tarling, head of development at and apartments. Newport Unlimited, said: “We are The pub is due for completion in n delighted to welcome Marston’s to May. Newport and in particular to The Old a Town Dock where the company Laura Barnes, from Marston’s clearly foresees a bright future. Inns and Taverns with Councillor “The area has undergone extensive John Richards, Newport City h regeneration over the last few years Council cabinet member for and its transformation from derelict regeneration and development land to an attractive investment and Paul Tarling of Newport C opportunity is something of which Unlimited 2 For the latest news visit www.newport.gov.uk NEWPORT MATTERS Council protects residents from storm surge risk Newport City Council and in advance by Floodline who Actions included: • Teams of experts from Natural Paul Cockeram, ward councillor partners successfully alerted property owners to the flood • A full evacuation of 140 Resources Wales and Newport City for Shaftsbury actively monitored delivered a coordinated plan risk and were fully supported by properties and rehousing of around Council on the ground at key the situation in the Crindau area to safeguard residents in four the council as part of a multi- 30 residents from Lighthouse Park locations and assisted with the evacuation areas of the city that were agency task force activated to deal • Social services support team • Extended opening hours of the alert. with such events. for elderly and vulnerable people identified to be at a high risk council’s contact centre, to provide A few pockets of isolated flooding Notice of the decision to issue • Door-to-door evacuation visits information and reassure residents were experienced in Newport as the of flooding earlier this month. this warning also triggered made to all houses in the affected With the help of Gwent Police, city braced itself for some of the This involved a comprehensive Newport City Council’s emergency Crindau area Welsh Ambulance Service and highest tidal levels in recent years. operation which placed the safety flood plan which saw specialist • Monitoring patrols at key Newport Transport all evacuation Despite recording a tidal high of of clearly identified groups of teams and council resources points along the River Usk plans were swiftly completed the 8.02 metres, only a few properties Newport residents at the heart of delivered directly to the affected • Deployment of sandbags to evening before the expected high in Crindau experienced water the actions. areas. vulnerable locations and properties tide and surge. Evacuated ingress and a low-lying stretch of All affected areas were identified properties were also given Caerleon Road running from St appropriate police protection. Julian’s Inn to The Ship public Many council staff came back house was closed due to surface LDP moves to next stage early off annual leave or water run-off. volunteered to help late into the Council officers have visited night to deliver the critical strands homes in Crindau to advise on and essential parts of the next steps including advice on emergency plan. Newport Centre disposal of damaged property and staff quickly prepared the venue to any concerns regarding be used as a rescue centre. environmental health. Councillor Bob Bright, Leader of If you are ever concerned Newport City Council, visited about flood risks in your area Crindau as the evacuation then you can contact Natural operation developed, and Resources Wales progressed on to Newport Centre to www.naturalresourceswales. support council staff and to meet gov.uk or call the Floodline on the evacuated residents. Councillor 0845 988 1188. Newport City Council has transport, employment, retail, north to follow the existing M4. approved the final version gypsy and traveller sites and There is a statutory of the revised deposit waste. requirement to identify transit Local Development Plan It identifies that housing and residential for Gypsy and (LDP) and it will now be provision will be met primarily Traveller sites so the LDP has on previously developed land. A allocated seven transit pitches submitted to the Welsh significant proportion is met by in Celtic Way; 43 residential Government for an housing commitments, i.e. sites pitches on land at Hartridge independent inspector to that already have planning Farm Road and a contingency examine. permission as at 1 October site on the former Ringland It will provide the strategy 2012. Allotments. and policy framework for the To meet the affordable Five major road schemes are development and conservation housing need, 86 per cent of included as well as proposals of Newport until 2026.