Clean up underpass

Now they want a crackdown to clean up the city's subways.

Members of the council's Transport Forum discussed the filthy, graffiti covered subways and now plan to approach the University of Wales College Newport for help.

Councillor Matthew Evans, member for Alt-yr-yn, highlighted just one of the city's subways claiming the station underpass, pictured, needed particular attention.

He said: "The subway that leads from the station in to the city has rats, graffiti and it is used by drug dealers as well." He added: "For a lot of people it is the gateway into the city and image counts for a lot. If that is the first thing that people see, it is not good enough."

He suggested an increase in lighting and CCTV cameras for the underpass to deter petty criminals and vandals.

Chairman, Councillor Paul Cockeram suggested that the forum approach Professor James Lusty at the UWCN, who had recently expressed an interest in involving the college in a public art project.

He said simply painting the walls of the underpass would result in more graffiti being scrawled on the walls so a new strategy was needed.

The forum may now ask the university to design a graffiti style mural for the underpass and commission art students to paint it.

Malcolm Hall, director for Newport City Centre Partnership, told the Argus he welcomed the suggestion.

He said: "Any underpass that creates the perception that it's unsafe needs to be addressed. Obviously there's a tremendous talent at UWCN and I'm keen that students and the university can be integrated into the life of the city centre.

"While I have thoughts on other projects I think it's a good idea to bring their enterprise and creativity into the city."

But a spokesman for UWCN would not be drawn on whether the university college would commit itself to helping out.

He said: "It sounds like an interesting suggestion but as we haven't been approached formally there's nothing more we can say at present."