With bonfire night under our belts, the focus is now very much on the run up to Christmas.

This Saturday is the Countdown to Christmas event which has historically brought around 9,000 people into the city centre. This year we have Pop Idol star Gareth Gates and heaps of local talent performing live music.

The Mayor will be joined by Benji Webbe of Newport band Skindred to switch on the Christmas lights, followed by a fantastic firework display. And don’t forget there will be fairground rides along the riverfront and on High Street into the evening.

Our thanks go to Newport Now BID who work so hard to arrange this event.

Saturday also marks the start of our free parking offer. You can park for free all day on Saturdays in council owned, city centre car parks up until the last Saturday in September. Full details are on our website.

When you’re in the city centre you will also notice work is well underway on Newport’s first Winter Wonderland. Opening on November 21 it will feature an undercover, real ice rink, fairground rides and Ferris wheel, festive food, licensed bar and marshmallow roasting pits. It’s free to enter, but make sure you book your tickets for skating at www.newportwinterwonderland.co.uk

There’s so much going on in the city centre and across Newport this festive season including Christmas markets, Santa’s grotto, pantomimes, live music and more – make sure you check out www.newport.gov.uk/christmas for more info.

While our Winter Wonderland is taking shape on the site of the old Newport Centre, our new leisure and wellbeing centre is moving to the next phase. One of the most eagerly anticipated new developments, it will provide fantastic new swimming and leisure facilities close to the city centre. I was pleased to be on site last week to hand the site over to Welsh company Wynne Construction to allow work to begin.

We’ll also be supporting business throughout the season but keep an eye out on Small Business Saturday (7 December). Did you know that more than 60 per cent of city centre businesses are independent? We’re proud of what’s on offer and we’re sure you can find that perfect gift close to home.

Our support for the festive season is not just about having fun – it’s about showing what amazing facilities, events and activities we have in Newport.

We’re proud to say that the total number of visitors to the city centre between January and September 2024 was more than 2.8 million - that’s an increase of 3.3 per cent on last year. We’re not only bucking the trend in Wales, which saw a drop in footfall of 4.6 per cent, but across the UK too – which was down by 1 per cent.

I look forward to seeing you in Newport over the next few weeks!

Cllr Dimitri Batrouni is the leader of Newport City Council.