Jobs boost as hotel scheme approved

A multi-million pound hotel and restaurant scheme that will bring about 50 jobs to Newport has been given the go-ahead. The 50-bed Premier Inn will be built on land at Mere Park in Stafford Road.

The development will also feature a Beefeater restaurant and car parking with a new access road.

Planning officers at Telford & Wrekin Council have granted full planning permission to Whitbread for the scheme using delegated powers.

It is not yet known when building work will begin on the site.

Councillor Glyn Gratton, member of Newport Town Council, today welcomed the news.

He said it would boost the economy and help to promote tourism business in the town.

He said: "As a town council we were given the opportunity to comment on the application.

"We very much welcomed the proposed plans.

"We did feel that there are not enough letting bedrooms here in Newport and it would be a good way of getting more people to the town and give them somewhere to stay, and hopefully people will come into the town and make use of our shops and facilities."

Councillor Gratton added: "There will be quite a lot of jobs created, which again is a good thing."

Wesley Sedman, of Birmingham-based Turley Associates which is advising the Whitbread chain on the scheme, said: "We envisage 50 jobs being created between the hotel and the restaurant."