A Newport man has branded derelict land on Stafford Street ‘a bomb site’ - and urged the council to take swift action.
The former home of Jeremy Tucker’s Plumbing Services - now earmarked for plush retirement homes - has been left derelict since they ceased trading some 12 years ago.
John Heath passes the area at least twice a day on his way to and from work - and he cannot stand the eyesore any longer.
He said: “I had anticipated that the proposed retirement complex may be built after the area had been cleared.
“This is a location which is eminently suitable for retired folk - within walking distance to the town centre, supermarkets and doctors’ surgeries, and with a bus stop on the doorstep.
“But no. Over 12 years later what Newport has on show in the very centre of town is nothing short of a bomb site.
“I must have become immune to it, but how many of the people who arrive in Newport by bus admire the view?
“How many people who use Stafford road car park are proud to leave their vehicles next to it?
“I suspect that if this area of land was situated in a green-field site along the A41, or if it was part of Newport’s heritage – something like a cattle market, say – planning permission would have already been granted and accommodation designed to relieve local housing shortages may have been built.
“But then I suppose 12 years is a bit too soon to give proper consideration to a planning application.
“It’s no good rushing things.
“So may I suggest that while we await a decision, Newport Council thinks about a twinning arrangement with a similar town - like Bahrain or Beirut, maybe.”
Town and borough councillor Eric Carter agreed that the site is an eyesore.
But he was quick to reassure residents that progress is being made with developers McCarthy and Stone who hope to start work should start on the retirement homes early in 2010.
He said. “We are now very, very close to resolving all the issues that we’ve had with the site.
“I agree that it is a problem but it’s one we’ve been working very hard to address.
“It’s easy to say that something must to be done, but unfortunately it’s just not that simple.
“Developers needed to be found and planning applications made - and those applications needed to tick all the boxes because its in a conservation area.
“But by the end of the year we should have the application in which I hope would be put forward for approval - and then we can start building early next year.”
By Sean Wozencroft
