NEWPORT'S councillors are being warned they will need to undergo "a major mindset change" regarding the town's future.

Council leader Sir Harry Jones said the authority had to be able to cope with the long-term implications arising from the redundancies at Corus' Llanwern plant.

The council's leader, Sir Harry Jones, said yesterday it was important to find a new philosophy that would be acceptable to all the councils in South Wales.

An all-day meeting has been arranged for Newport councillors to debate the issue at the YMCA in Pill next Wednesday.

In the morning there will be a debate on the implications for the town following the moves by Corus, and Newport's role in South-East Wales.

The afternoon session will be devoted to discussing the council's corporate plan and how this could be affected.

Sir Harry said the two sessions were "inextricably linked" and that if they were in conflict it would cause "great difficulties" for the council.

"I hope to find consensus in the council between political parties in terms of where Newport is going," he said.

Sir Harry said council leaders across South Wales, not just Newport, would have to undergo a "significant mind change".

He said that some leaders would be required to accept, in principle, "a whole shift in the perception they've held for the long-term direction and future of their area".

They would also need to agree on where the economic centres would be within South Wales, he said.

Sir Harry said the change of mindset would be "of some magnitude" and would have "major consequences for our future".

The Argus is campaigning for the government to help bring jobs and training opportunities to Gwent's steel communities devastated by the Corus redundancies.

Prime Minister Tony Blair responded to calls by the Argus for aid to help those communities earlier this year. In a letter to the Argus Mr Blair said the government was working to regenerate the communities.