A NEWPORT councillor wants city residents to get discounted entry to the city’s historic Tredegar House if it is transferred to the National Trust.

Lliswerry councillor Allan Morris said he was relieved that residents would still have free access to the park, play area and council-run library, but said he would like local people to pay no more than the £7.50 for adults and £5.65 for concessions, they do now to visit the historic house, regardless of whether the National Trust decides to increase the entry fee.

Cllr Morris said he will be sad to see the management of the historic house transferred to the conservation charity, if members agree to the move at a meeting tomorrow.

He said the 17th century building was Newport’s “jewel in the crown” and the council should have done more to market it itself rather than proposing to hand it over to the National Trust to help boost its paid visitor numbers.

He said: “The council took a very brave decision many years ago to purchase it, it is owned by the people of Newport and is something we should be proud of.

“I personally would prefer to have seen greater effort gone into the council trying to attract more visitors rather than handing it over to another organisation.”

The move to transfer management of the house, gardens and parklands to the National Trust is estimated to bring in 50,000 more visitors a year, which could boost the local economy by around £1.47 million. If the plans are approved, the council will retain ownership, while the National Trust will take on a 50-year lease to oversee its running.

The Trust would also be responsible for any repairs, maintenance and restoration work on the landmark, which would be the National Trust’s first major historic house in South East Wales.