00:00Senior councillors have backed demolishing the former W.H. Smith building on Commercial Street,
00:06planning a new public open space on the cleared site.
00:10Councillor James Clark, Regeneration Cabinet member, said the report deemed demolition the
00:15clear option because other proposals lacked commercial viability and no new occupiers emerged.
00:22Councillor Emma Stowell-Corton says the plan shows the council is listening.
00:27Councillor Saeed Adhan said demolition is the most reasonable way to reshape Newport's centre.
00:34Council leader Councillor Dimitri Batrouni says the authority will act to evolve Newport's
00:40city centre and will label anti-Newport criticism as negativity.
