WELCOME to Newport’s new look John Frost Square - something which is splitting opinion across the city.

The new colour scheme, painted ahead of the Ryder Cup, is being seen by some as a mellow yellow addition to the city centre - but others have dubbed the 'yellow brick road' a huge waste of cash.

Newport City Council have painted John Frost Square yellow as a temporary measure to brighten up the shopping area while other work is done to the surrounding shopping area.

But the square's new look received a mixed response from traders and shoppers, with Jeffrey Pumford of Pumford and Sons fruit and veg branding it “the biggest waste of money I have ever seen”.

“We’ve had eight weeks of disruptions in John Frost Square and this is the end product,” he said. “It looks like it has been hand-painted with a shovel, it’s not tidy.

All the customers think it’s disgusting.”

He added that the yellow is already stained in one place with oil and the colour will prove difficult to keep clean.

Alex Lewis, 27, of Maindee, called it “shocking”. She said: “It’s a bit like “follow the yellow brick road”, I think the council are trying too hard to be like Cardiff and create something different and wacky.”

Marlene Vaughan of Maesglas, called it a “horrible pot of mustard colour”. She said: “It’s a mess. If they want to attract people, they’d be better off putting the clock back.”

Martin Webber, 46, said: “Maybe they painted it yellow because it shows up better in the dark.”

But the reaction wasn’t all bad. Graham Jones, 65, of Rogerstone, said: “When I first saw it, I wasn’t impressed, but it’s grown on me. It helps to brighten the place up.”

Shirley Belen of Corporation Road called it a “nice colour” for children like her nineteen month old daughter, Janella, to play on.

Shelley Gapper-Hampson, from Brynglas, said: “it’s different, but nice different”.

Deborah Bates, 43, from High Cross called it 'summery" and "beautiful".

More work to spruce up area

A Newport City Council spokeswoman said the new yellow surface forms part of a city centre enhancement programme.

The temporary covering was funded by a £3.8 million Assembly grant, but the council was unable to provide an exact breakdown of the cost.

A spokeswoman said the authority has been looking how to best brighten up John Frost Square, with further plans for two water features, bins and benches in the square when works are finished at the end of April.

A spokeswoman said the final colour and details of the surface had not yet been finalised.