Nato summit: Newport looks forward to future benefit from global exposure

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/05/nato-newport-positive-response-from-locals

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There were still some naysayers such as Bill Davey at the Kriminals Records store in Newport's bustling market. "Obama hasn't been here to buy any vinyl," he said. "I don't see what good Nato being here is going to do for the place. It's all a bit of nonsense, if you ask me."

And, naturally, the hardcore protesters who marched on the venues in Newport and Cardiff where the world's leaders were meeting, remained unconvinced that Nato meeting here in south Wales – or anywhere, for that matter – was a good thing.

But as the summit drew to a close, most residents, business people, local politicians and the police – who were drafted into the area in their thousands – were deeming the event a success.

"It's got to be good for the city to have the world's most powerful man in your town," said Andrew Davies, as he watched Friday's flypast of Nato planes over his home close to the Celtic manor golf resort, where the Nato leaders and their entourages were holed up.

Outside the fortified gates, guarded by gun-toting police officers and security services personnel, Roman Lukac – originally from the Czech Republic but now happily living in Newport – looked on with his nine-year-old son, Kristian.

"We've been here quite a bit, just watching people coming and going. It's good for the image of Newport that such an event can take place here."

Kristian was hoping to catch a glimpse of Barack Obama, who is the first sitting US president to set foot in Wales. "I think he's cool," he said.

If nothing else, the youngsters of Newport certainly know the names of the US president and British prime minister – and some even have a little insight into the workings of Nato, thanks to the many school projects inspired by the visit of the organisation.

The disruption that many feared did not take place. There were some diversions and delays as people negotiated the miles of steel fencing set up to keep any terrorists and violent protesters away.

At the Waterloo Hotel in front of Newport's historic transporter bridge, once used to ferry workers across from the city centre to the huge steel works, Bob Evans said his restaurant had been a little empty because locals had preferred to stay at home rather than risk being stuck in the anticipated traffic chaos.

"But the hotel has been packed with residents, which is good," he said. "I think the summit will have the same effect as the Ryder Cup [the golf competition was hosted at Celtic Manor in 2010]. Some people may do a little bit of business during it, but others profit long term because it puts us on the map."

Newport council is predicting that hosting the summit will create a boom time for the city, regarded by many as the poor relation to glittering Cardiff, a few minutes down the M4.

Councillor Bob Bright, the council leader, said: "We are used to the eyes of the world being on us as the Ryder Cup was held in Newport and next year we will host teams taking part in the rugby world cup. However, the Nato summit elevates the city to another level.

"It is now truly on the global stage, ranking among other notable cities, showing it has the qualities required to host a conference of this size and significance. The real benefit is the global exposure the city will receive. The impact this will have in the future on investors from a wide variety of sectors including retail, housing and regeneration is unquantifiable."

Police chiefs are pleased at how smooth the security operation has been.

Almost 10,000 officers from forces across the UK have been drafted in to Newport. They have generally been praised for their friendly style of policing: handing out water to protesters, even organising a shuttle bus at the end of Thursday's march on Celtic Manor back to the city centre.

There were just four arrests when protesters demonstrated outside Cardiff castle on Thursday evening, as the leaders, including Obama, met for a working banquet – characterised as the most expensive dinner in the world.

Ch Supt Alun Maxwell Thomas, of South Wales police said: "Only a very small minority were involved in criminal activity with the majority protesting peacefully."

Leaders of the protests also heralded their demonstrations a success.

Concerns that the sort of violence that marred the last Nato summit – in Chicago, 2012 – would be repeated were unfounded.

A feature of the demonstrations has been the huge variety of participants – from Greenham Common veterans to young communists; from many calling for Nato do to less to Ukrainians and Kurds wanting the leaders to do more to help them.

Adam Johannes, secretary of Cardiff Stop the War and a leading light in the Nato protests under the banner of No Nato Newport, said young and old, hardened campaigners and newcomers to the peace movement, had joined the demonstrations. "I think it's been a very effective rejection of Nato's stance," he said.

Johannes said demonstrators had travelled from across the UK, Europe and the world to show their distaste for Nato and its leaders. "The response from local people has been very encouraging. The police tried to isolate us from them by saying that there would be violence and aggression. That hasn't happened."

The Welsh first minister, Carwyn Jones, said the summit had brought "unprecedented global attention" to Wales. He said: "This is a historic moment for our country. I hope that staging the summit here in Wales will encourage the children to consider global issues."

Stephen Crabb, the secretary of state for Wales, said: "This summit is of momentous importance given the issues that the Nato alliance have been discussing in Newport. It has proven that we are able to host international events of the highest standard and showcase all that is great about Wales to the world."