Referendum on Newport developments ruled out by council

A referendum on developments facing Newport 'would not be practical', council leaders told a fraught public meeting last night.

It follows calls for a ballot on plans for around 850 houses and two supermarkets by town councillors Andrew Eade and Adrian Meredith. They want residents to have their say on four controversial planning applications before a decision is finally made next year.

But at an open meeting last night attended by more than 200 residents, Telford & Wrekin Council leader Councillor Kuldip Sahota said a referendum was not likely.

He told the meeting: "A referendum is something that should be borough-wide and it costs £245,000.

"If Newport has a referendum, it could open the floodgates for others elsewhere."

Councillor Sahota was joined by the council's head of planning Michael Barker and Councillor Bill McClem-ents at the meeting at the Royal Victoria Hotel.

The meeting, organised by Newport & District Chamber of Commerce, became fraught as former council leader Councillor Eade and Councillor Sahota clashed.

Councillor Eade told his successor: "You have dodged every question. Show some leadership and put Newport first."

But Councillor Sahota said the proposals were moving before Labour took control in May.

He snapped: "I am leading. This is your mess. You are one who started it."

Councillor McClements admitted the sale of council-owned land for a 60,000sq ft supermarket on Station Road would help ease the budget deficit. "We have £80m of debt which has to be covered," he said.

Councillor Sahota assured campaigners that applications would be dealt with 'on merit'.

There are currently four major applications on the table for Newport, including 285 houses on Wellington Road, 215 houses on Audley Avenue, 350 houses and a supermarket on Station Road and another supermarket on Audley Avenue.

All the plans are likely to be decided early next year.

Lilleshall resident Kate Foster said the council should think of Newport "as a gem."

Councillor Sahota said: "It is a gem, but so is every town in the borough."