Lack of focus on creating and sustaining local industry and jobs is changing the nature of our city
An unconnected programme of residential building and a lack of focus on creating and sustaining local industry and jobs is turning Newport into a ‘commuter town’, warns David Mclean, Wales Green Party candidate for Newport East. “Almost weekly we are hearing of new housing developments across our city,” says Mr Mclean. “But where is the focus on industry and jobs to support the city’s growing population?
“The latest proposed development for 251 homes to the south of Glan Usk Primary School in Herbert Road is the latest in a long line of new developments that show no regard for joined up thinking or sustainable communities. As well as the inevitable problems with increased congestion this new development will create, there are serious questions to be asked about building new homes next to a river that is likely to see increased incidents of flooding in the future.
“However, it is the clear lack of any guiding holistic strategy behind these random new developments that causes most concern. Yes we need housing, but equally we need industry and jobs, and we need to think about how people get around the city.”
The Centre for Cities ‘Cities Outlook 2015’ revealed the depth of the city’s problems, with Newport having one of the lowest levels of business growth and one of the lowest levels of private sector jobs growth of the 64 cities measured in the report. On top of this, Newport has one of the highest levels of Job Seekers’ Allowance claimants
. “This disappointing performance does not seem to be of concern to the Labour-led council or our MPs who continue to tell us that ‘things can only get better’.” continues Mr Mclean. “We already have one of the highest level of housing stock growth, and the second highest levels of CO2 emissions per capita, which suggests that an increasing number of people who live in the city are commuting elsewhere to work. This is evidenced in the rush hour congestion on the M4 and the overcrowded trains.
“As a city we need to stop simply building with little or no regard to issues such as effective and sustainable transport, and start thinking of how we can encourage and support local business and industry growth, and the ways in which people can get to work easier through cycling and public transport. The alternative is that our city becomes a ‘commuter town’ and none of us want that.”
David Mclean is Wales Green Party Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Newport East constituency. A PR consultant of 15 years, David has lived in Newport for 33 years and currently works from his home in the city. With a strong background in sustainable construction, David has a particular interest in ensuring the city recovers and develops in a sustainable way for the benefit of the local economy, people and environment.