Cash fears over Newport Gypsy site plan

From the South Wales Argus

WORRIES were expressed at a Newport cabinet meeting yesterday over a proposed Gypsy site that has been earmarked to be sold to raise money for a school.

Yesterday the city’s cabinet members commented on a list of sites agreed by a Newport council scrutiny committee for Gypsy and traveller sites now set to go forward to council. However, at the meeting some cabinet members expressed concerns that the council could stand to lose an asset as a result.

Officers indicated to the committee that the road safety centre in Hartridge Farm Road had been earmarked to help pay off the debt used to build nearby Llanwern High School.

Part of the discussions were held in private – largely because an officer appraisal dealing with land values has been kept confidential.

However, the Argus previously reported that the Hartridge Farm Road site, which was put forward as a residential site, is valued at £5 million.

Cllr Bob Poole, cabinet member for education, said he was concerned about the loss of assets to the authority.
He said: “We need every penny.”