A plea from someone who’s visited The Hub since the first week it opened, three years ago. I think it’s fair to say its closure two weeks ago caught everyone on the back foot, and whilst most were aware, just by looking, of the shocking state of the Royal Victoria Hotel, I don’t think anyone envisaged that anything would have to close as a consequence.
I fully understand however that it had to be shut and cannot reopen until the RVH has been made safe. My concerns are more to do with speed of the work to be undertaken and the importance the council are placing on the continued closure of The Hub.
When the HSE made their assessment, we were informed “if the owner fails to take action by 21 February 2023, the council will undertake the work and recover costs from the owner.” This statement has been taken directly from the TWC website and is still showing as live as I type this on the afternoon of 22nd February 2023.
I looked forward to reading the TWC update that appeared on social media late yesterday afternoon, which stated “the owner has made progress, and provided a safe scaffolding design and sought contractors.
We have requested a firm completion deadline from the owner. We will confirm a deadline for completion of the work as soon as possible.” This update now appears to have been taken down from social media, for reasons unknown.
I was disappointed in the update’s contents, not only is the council not undertaking the work as promised in its own statement, but in using the phrase ‘as soon as possible’ it gives us a deadline of no tangible value, meaning that the repairs could take days, weeks or even months to complete.
I’m sure things are going on in the background, but from the general publics point of view, we only have what you provide to us as a means to assess how matters are progressing.
If you don’t tell us, we don’t know, so you will forgive me if I state that your update instils no confidence in your abilities to deliver a resolution to this situation. Roger and Rebekah Brock, as owners of the RVH, have (to use your own words) ‘neglected the building for a number of years’ so perhaps you can understand that the public have no faith in anything they say.
In the meantime, whilst all this is going on, an essential community amenity appears to have been forgotten about. We’ve heard lots about St Mary’s Street and the road closure, we’ve heard about how the traders are being impacted, but nothing has been mentioned about The Hub, which is not only a community asset but a business too.
It’s as if it’s an inconvenience in the narrative being put forward by the council. The Hub was the only business not to be mentioned in your update yesterday, and whilst we are hearing the slogan ‘Newport Is Open For Business’, the reality of this soundbite should really be saying ‘Newport Is Open For Business Except The Hub Which Is In Limbo And Has No Idea When It Will Reopen’. Not quite as snappy a title I agree.
I honestly cannot stress enough how important The Hub is to our community. It’s so much more than a café. The Hub isn’t a ‘nip in for a coffee’ and wander off home type of place, it’s a facilitator of business for Newport. People come to The Hub and then go shopping, not go shopping and then nip to The Hub. It’s essential for the Newport economy. The Hub customers increase footfall in the town, let’s be very clear about this.
But let’s also be clear about something equally as important and less easy to assess on balance sheets. Many of the people who attend The Hub are often forgotten by society, the young mums isolated at home, the older ladies, widowed and lacking in easy transport.
These ladies see The Hub as their therapy (and this is the word actually used by one particular friend of mine), it boosts their mental and physical well-being and most importantly it gives them their confidence back.
They now have friends with whom they meet up with outside of The Hub, go on buses to the town centre, to Stafford, go on holiday together, become ‘ladies wot lunch’ in the various eateries around our town. And let’s not underestimate the importance their additional contribution to the local economy makes when they do so. The Hub may not cure their arthritis but it sure as heck keeps them moving and gives them a purpose in life.
Equally if you had witnessed the progression the vulnerable adults who volunteer have made you would be sat here writing this email too. I’ve seen volunteers unable to speak to customers at the start of their journeys, who wouldn’t even come unless attended by their grandmother, now use buses on their own to come and volunteer and who sit and chat with us about their lives.
So, I implore you, don’t ignore this, don’t downplay it and don’t underestimate the impact The Hub has on Newport and its residents. Currently, the PODS family group, breast-feeding mums group, Café Aspire, the Children’s Autism Hub, SEND/IACC, ILC, the Toddler’s Storytime, the art classes, the free half term activities are all suspended and on hold.
Give us something concrete to ease our concerns. Work together, all of you copied in, for the good of our community to make this happen as quickly as you possibly can, I don’t care what politics you are, or what inside leg measurement you’ve got, just manage our expectations and reassure us that The Hub has not been forgotten about.
Please remember and ignore this at your peril: it’s not about the aesthetic of a once beautiful building, sad though it is, it’s about ensuring this vital community asset is reopened so all of Newport can benefit from it.
Thank you.
