FOLLOWING legal consultation, Newport City Council Leader, Bob Bright, has rightly delayed his decision on whether to turn St Julian’s woods/park into a local nature reserve (LNR).
Citizens can now input their questions via their local councillor, but why is NCC avoiding the issue of the (potentially negative) impact on the all important visual experience of the woods for photography students, film-makers and walkers etc?
This would be particularly affected by the frequent revenue generating forest schools, a common feature of LNRs (some include creating shelters, building/lighting fires, mud-sliding and making wooden and rope bridges). Visit www.newport.gov.uk or www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/discover-and-learn.
Why does Gwent Wildlife Trust’s link to the Allt-yr-yn LNR provide zero information on these?
Will NCC please state clearly what they mean by improved access throughout the park ie. as opposed to kissing gates around it?
Why is NCC saying that my questions cannot be dealt with until after the big decision is made when the horse will already have bolted?
 Will Mr Bright accept my challenge to give full and direct answers to all, not just a few, of my questions ahead of this important decision?
Will NCC remove the recently placed, unnecessary and hazardous ground stakes from the woods?

Jim Sullivan,
Belmont Hill,
Caerleon