TWITTERATE election candidates for Newport West debated during an online hustings organised by the Argus yesterday (TUES).

We used the social media site to put readers’ questions to Pippa Bartolotti (Green Party), Simon Coopey (Plaid Cymru), Paul Flynn (Labour), Ed Townsend (Liberal Democrat) and Nick Webb (Conservative).

Candidates took on 11 topics, and were split over whether a barrage across the Usk in Newport was worth promoting. Mr Webb said it could create an attractive waterside, and added: “[Regeneration company] Newport Unlimited proposed Crindau marina which never came to be unfortunately. We should make more of the riverside.”

Incumbent candidate Paul Flynn said there had been strong support for the barrage in the past, but decision makers valued the interests of the twiate shad (a fish which lives upstream) more highly than Newport’s wellbeing. “An Usk Barrage would have transformed the city with a freshwater long lake through the heart of city. Sabotage by NIMBIES,” he tweeted.

Simon Coopey said a barrage could provide clean hydro-electricity as well as improving the city’s aesthetics and said: “Providing environmental disruption is minimal it has my full backing.”

But Pippa Bartolotti was less keen, saying she would only support it if was a power generator. Earlier studies claimed a barrage would quickly silt up, incurring huge costs from dredging, she added.

And Ed Townsend, previously a deputy leader of Newport Council, said there was “no magic wand” and we have already seen “decades of battles and immense cost. Realistically not on just now...”

They also grappled with the question of an M4 relief road, currently planned by the Welsh Government for the south of Newport but criticised from several quarters.

Pippa Bartolotti said the money would be better spent on public transport and added: “We have to start protecting our ecosystems with a vengeance - or they will no longer be there to support human life.”

Simon Coopey also came out against the plan, saying: it would “bulldoze through areas of natural beauty like Gwent Levels & through Newport Docks causing lost business (and potentially jobs) there.”

But Paul Flynn said it was a “brave decision by Assembly to invest £1bn”, saying it was the only solution to future problems of crumbling bridges of M4. And he said: “Plaid Cymru's opposition is low political opportunism based on pressure from North Wales lobby.”

Ed Townsend said a new tunnel at Brynglas would destroy communities to east and west. “A proper motorway relief road to the south linked to improvements in public transport is essential”. He suggested a rail bus hub at Severn Tunnel Junction could help ease congestion.

Mr Webb said he support a relief road to full motorway standard, mitigation measures to replace lost areas of the wetlands.

Asked what experience they had to be Newport West’s next MP, Simon Coopey said: “I might be youngest candidate, but I wonder if any of the others have had my breadth of experience on society’s sharp end? How many have been homeless? Sanctioned by DWP for a spurious reason and forced to survive on nothing?”

Paul Flynn said his experience as an MP since 1987 was a good apprenticeship while Nick Webb said he was not a ‘career politician’ and had worked with Newport Civic Society, Newport Now and Welsh Refugee Council. Pippa Bartolotti said she was an entrepreneur and would “major on” small business development and ecotourism for Newport and Ed Townsend said he had a strong record as a champion for the city, a former deputy leader of the council who was willing to put city before party.

UKIP candidate Gordon Norrie, who does not have a Twitter presence, is also standing in Newport West.