HOPE FOR CAMBRIAN CENTRE

A supermarket could re-open on the site of a former shopping centre in Newport that had been due for a £90m facelift.

A plan to demolish the Cambrian Centre to build shops and a 100-metre tower was scrapped last year when developer Modus went into administration. New owners Scarborough Development Group are now considering building a supermarket on the land, believing it is more economically viable.

There have been plans to regenerate Cambrian Centre going back to 2004. Mark Jackson, managing director at Scarborough Development, said: "The food store market is understandably proving to be one of the more robust in this recession, and is a great sector in which to be investing and in which to found our new business." The Cambrian Centre used to house a Somerfield supermarket before it was closed down to pave the way for regeneration.

Welcoming the news of the acquisition Robert Carew- Chaston, director of Newport- based Hutchings & Thomas Chartered Surveyors told Wales Online :

“I’m keen to know more about Scarborough Development Group’s plans for Newport but on the face of it this is fantastic news for our city. This could well be the first sign that the private sector is now ready to act and get back into the marketplace and take up what are in the case of the city of Newport ‘oven ready’ development sites such as the one worked up by Modus for the centre of Newport."

Rosemary Butler AM stated

"I was ...glad to hear that the Modus subsidiary company which originally set out to develop the Cambrian site, has now been acquired by the Scarborough Development Group. That's another piece of good news and I hope that the Friars Walk redevelopment will also get back on track . All this, as well as the Ryder Cup in October, means that Newport is still very much on the map."

NEWPORT STILL ATTRACTIVE TO BUSINESS - FIRST MINISTER

Newport West AM Rosemary Butler was given assurances by First Minister Carwyn Jones today that Newport is still a place where investment is taking place, despite a report from a firm of leading economic analysts which suggested that Newport is one of the worst affected cities in the UK during the current recession. The Centre for Cities think tank said recently that Newport was near the bottom of the league table when it came to new business start ups and lost private sector jobs. Mrs Butler raised the findings of the report during questions to the First Minister Carwyn Jones.

Rosemary Butler, Newport West: Will the First Minister comment on yesterday's report from the independent think tank "Centre for Cities" which suggests that Newport is one of the UK's biggest victims in the current recession. It's clear that more new businesses and more private sector jobs are needed, as well as a higher level of skills for the local workforce. Will the Welsh Assembly Government make a special effort to make sure that Newport doesn't get left behind once the recession ends?

First Minister: Newport is in quite a favourable position in terms of its geography - its proximity to the M4 and of course the main railway line. Even when we have gone through difficult times, there have been significant investment projects that have been secured in Newport - Admiral Insurance for example, the HSBC insurance services sector, the new power station, the new railway station, the new university campus of course, the city centre and of course Bettws School. So roughly 2,000 jobs have been created across the city between April 2008 and September 2009.It shows that Newport is still very much a place where investment is taking place and very much a place which is attractive for business.

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SUPPORT FOR CITY CREDIT UNION

Newport Credit Union has been given £36,000 by the Welsh Assembly to help with internal renovations and the purchase of IT and office equipment as part of a £40,000 refurbishment project.

The new funding has been welcomed by Newport West AM Rosemary Butler.

She said: "Many people are still finding it difficult to borrow money from High Street banks, and anything which the Welsh Assembly can do to ease the situation is very welcome. I'm urging residents of Newport West to join their local credit union and take advantage of the facilities which are on offer."