I LOVE Newport, where I was born and bred, and it is sad to see its decline over the years. So I hope that the new shopping development at Friars Walk is a success, albeit with £90 million borrowed by the council to lend to the developers, Queensberry. This development should, if successful, increase the footfall into Newport. On this point I hope that Newport council has a little bit of forethought, ie having park and ride on the boundaries of the city, and sorting out the daily traffic jam outside the Royal Gwent Hospital, plus keeping free parking, before this development is finished. If these are not in place I can still see people heading for Cwmbran or Cardiff.

Norman Plaisted Vivian Road Newport