Residents are urging Newport council to take action on vacant shops in the city center, highlighting the need for revitalization and economic growth.
Newport: At a recent council meeting, opposition leader Cllr Matthew Evans pressed Cllr Dimitri Batrouni about plans to fill the empty shops in the city center. He pointed out the old Admiral building and a new office space that’s been sitting unused since it was built.
Cllr Evans mentioned that Cardiff has seen a surge in office space occupancy lately and questioned why Newport can’t do the same. Cllr Batrouni, while calling Newport “pro-business,” kept mum about any specific plans for revitalization.
He did say that preparing these plans takes time and that they wouldn’t be shared until later this year. Cllr Batrouni added, “We’re ahead of you, but we won’t share the details until six months’ on.”
During the meeting, Cllr Evans also praised the council leader for his stance on a proposed tourism tax. The Welsh Government is looking to introduce a levy for overnight visitors in 2027, but Cllr Batrouni has distanced Newport from adopting this policy.
In a previous chat, he mentioned that Newport City Council needs to “adapt and change” to keep services running smoothly. Last November, he revealed that the council was facing a £20 million budget shortfall this year and needed to make some changes to tackle that issue.
To save money, the council plans to automate services and shift many application processes online, like blue badge and parking permits. They’re also looking to make buildings more energy-efficient and install automatic number plate recognition cameras in some car parks.
While the council doesn’t have to finalize its budget until January, Cllr Batrouni expressed a desire to “get ahead of the game.” Like many councils, Newport is grappling with a budget gap as service costs rise faster than government grants, and he acknowledged the need to “face the new reality.”
