Councillors decide to scrap Newport calendar

Newport town councillors discussed helping fund a 2015 calendar to hand out to the town's residents and visitors and help promote its landmarks and the date of its events.

With the Christmas lights switch on, fairs, mayor making, the carnival, the Newport show and many other events taking place in the town, councillors agreed it would be a good way to inform people when they were being held.

But they argued at Wednesday's meeting over whether it would be the best use of taxpayers' money, after Newport's Town Team applied to the town council for a £650 grant towards the project.

In the end, members decided to defer any grant money for a calendar and instead aim for a 2016 publication - giving them more time to plan it and discuss whether it could instead be sold.

Councillor Roy Scammell said: "I say put this on ice for next year. We are now halfway through November calendars have been on sale for the past couple of months. Put it off until next year."

But Councillor Peter Scott said: "One of the issues I see in this application is they could technically afford it themselves.

"I think this town needs something like an annual calendar.

"Even in May people come to us and say when is the carnival, when is the Newport show, when is the Christmas lights switch on?

"I think we ought to look at it and look at the merits of it.

"I think we should consider it because we do need something in as many windows as possible that tells people what is going on and when - although it is possible the town council could do it instead."

Councillor Lyn Fowler agreed that the town council could publish a calendar instead. She said: "These grants are supposed to be handed out for crises, this is not as far as I am aware.

"I do think a calendar is an excellent idea but I think the town council should do it not the town team. But we do need something to promote things that are going on in the town."

Mayor Tony Forrester said if the town were to produce a calendar, it would need to promote Newport, not simply print pictures of it.

"If we do have a calendar we have all this events and the town we have to make sure if we have one it brings out the best in Newport," he added.

Meanwhile the Newport Chamber of Commerce was successful in its bid for a £500 grant from the town council.

The commerce, which is celebrating its 50th year, will host a Dickensian themed evening in the town on Friday, December 12, from 5pm until 9pm.

Councillors said the chamber was deserving of the cash because "they do a good lot in the town and they are trying to support the businesses and events in the town."