Nesting gull added £460k to building demolition bill

A nesting gull meant the cost of knocking down Newport Centre rocketed by almost £500,000

A nesting seagull added almost £500,000 to the cost of knocking down Newport Centre.

A council report showed the demolition scheme spent £460,000 more than planned last year.

The authority blamed delays on the bird that resulted in additional costs.

The council confirmed about 40 days were lost because of the nesting bird.

The report said the overspend will be paid for by "Coleg Gwent and a revenue budget contribution from the councils in 2023-24".

Costs it said, were being finalised.

Newport Centre, which was in Usk Way, has now been knocked down in preparation for a new Coleg Gwent campus.

Demolition began in April 2023 at the site, which for decades was one of the city’s main leisure destinations.

It included a swimming pool, and hosted big gigs with David Bowie and Elton John among stars to play there.

The council said it was focused on delivering a new leisure centre for Newport that will be built about 100m from the old site.