Newport Conservatives

10/06/2026

Plan lodged for bleed kit and defibrillator in Newport

A building society has applied for planning permission to place defibrillator and bleed kits on its branch in Newport.
..link to full story the comments...

10/06/2026

Spring and early summer is planting season for Newport in Bloom. It's a busy time!

Last week, Jackie and her team were planting the floral decoration in what Newport in Bloom call Church Bed, it's the one on Lower bar by The Hub Newport.

With over 200 plants, the bed now looks an absolute picture. Beautiful Newport.

10/06/2026

Big weekend of Newport canal works as the concrete footings go in for the aqueduct retaining wall.

The nearest domestic vehicle access point is Norbroom park - a bit far to carry the ballast and cement so the canal trust secured this mechanical wheel barrow. After proper safety instructions, Cllr Tim Nelson took his turn driving . You can see, it's on tracks. Like driving a little tank! Something you certainly have to get the hang of, but John Myers SNCT chair and Tim took it steady and materials delivered to the canal side safely.

In the pictures are the footings for the blue engineering block wall, that will form part of the protection of pedestrians at Meretown aqueduct. Essentially, they have been building a steel reinforced concrete beam 15' long, 2' wide, 9" deep. By volunteers ( though skilfull, and method signed off by T&W, I understand), some way from the nearest road!

There was a lot of concrete to mix. A couple of volunteers had used a mixer before, turns out Tim was the only one who had been paid to do so. That summer he spent his holidays carrying for a couple of brickies building squash courts (lots of bricks) came in handy.

Tim said "I think the quality of mud I was knocking up was ok, followed the mix and no complaints. Great work by a fantastic team, high quality, everyone getting stuck in. As you see, full PPE for the one handling the cement. Looking forward to the finished job but congratulations to John Myers for leading the gang, and Ruth and Terry Otter for all the preparation -shuttering etc- and actually laying the screed".

18/05/2026

18/05/2026

Councillor Bill Harper is opposing calls to make police forces in England and Wales which will almost certainly see West Mercia Police merged with the West Midlands.

Today I made my feelings known in respect of a Public Consultation in respect of the proposals to reduce the number of police Authorities from 42 to 13.
This in practical terms would mean a very different Policing structure to the one we currently enjoy.
I foresee complications in practical terms regarding’local knowledge’ and understanding how a ‘market town’ operates, and it’s unique structure vs the possibility of our calls being handled by a ‘metropolitan’ organisation remote and very distant from our community.
I vehemently oppose this proposal, and have voiced so since its first round of discussions.

11/05/2026

An update from Cllr Tim Nelson ...

Well! Not something I usually do ... Rule follower that I am ( and think in my socially conservative way, everyone else should) but the temptation to be first to ride the new cycle path between Sheep island Newport, and Aldi, was too great on Friday.

Talked my way past three checkpoints of friendly builders, off I wobbled. It has been made to a high standard, good width, mostly lit. A couple of tight bends, a couple of points with overhanging vegetation that will need (will be..) trimming. Otherwise, at last!

We have wanted this path since before Aldi in 2015. Identified the need, the desire lines of folks already trudging the verge along the A518 were already there, council said no, pending a huge new housing estate. The estate wasn't wanted but is now a fact, so the path has been built. I hope it is well used, I'm sure it will be. It runs from busy road, Station Road, to busy junction, where Aldi, etc, is accessed off the A518. Care will need to be taken at these places. But overall, an improvement

11/05/2026

Cllr Tim Nelson has lots and lots on at the moment in Newport, most of it related to residents issues.

An interlude at the weekend, out tending to and watering Newport's "High Street trees".

Tim said: "Well, the first miracle is that to date they seem to survive. Two looked not so good but many have literally blossomed.

Many thanks to those shopkeepers who are helping with watering and looking after the trees near their premises, and to the Guildhall, library and Hub who provided Cllr Scott and I with bucket and watering can filling facilities!"