Telford & Wrekin Council refutes claim of neglecting Newport

Councillor Lee Carter said Newport was a key town in the area, and that the authority would work together with Newport Town Council.

Every effort will be made to overcome the challenges Newport faces, said Councillor Carter, the authority's cabinet member for finance.

It comes after Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard claimed Newport was being "discriminated against" by the borough council.

The town faces losing its library, outdoor market and two children's play areas as part of £30 million cuts proposed by Telford & Wrekin Council.

Councillor Carter said: "Newport is a vital town in Telford and it is a unique part of the borough. All these claims that Newport has been neglected is not true, and we look forward to working with its town council.

"It's all about working as a community and working together to over come this difficult challenge we face."

During Thursday's council meeting at Oakengates Theatre, Councillor Tim Nelson, who represents Newport North and West on the borough council and is also the town's mayor, asked the cabinet to rethink the proposals to close Newport's only library.

He said it was important that the cabinet took communities as well as towns into consideration when axing certain services.

At the meeting he said: "It is important that cabinet members take communities into account during the consultation.

"That is why I look forward to working with the cabinet, but people need the details of what it means for the community not the town as a whole." Heated debates also broke out during the meeting over the council's proposed budget for 2016/17.

Councillor Andrew Eade, leader of the Conservative group on the authority, called for a review into closing libraries in Newport, Donnington, Madeley, Dawley, Donnington and Stirchley.

But Councillor Sahota said the council had insufficient resources to avoid the proposed cuts and said it would be essential to listen to the views of the public. Councillor Lee Carter, cabinet member for finance, urged residents to take part in one of the 32 consultations taking place in the borough.