Sommerin shows his true star quality
DETAILS about plans for a new £50m railway station and park and ride facility in Llanwern, Newport, have been revealed.
Plans for the railway station were announced last year as part of the Welsh Government’s draft budget for the 2018-2019 financial year.
Transport for Wales, which is behind the plans, lodged an application with Newport City Council to determine whether an environmental impact assessment is required to be submitted with a planning application. Details of the proposed development are revealed in the application, including a new railway station with a 150-metre platform and 1,000-space car park.
“The proposal is for a new circa 1.7km passenger line running parallel with and connecting to the existing South Wales Mainline relief lines,” documents in the application state. A new station will be located along the new passenger line and include a 150m long platform.”
A Transport for Wales spokesman said: “This planning application is for the initial phase of the Llanwern Rail Facilities project and will deliver infrastructure to support major events.
“Currently no date has been set for the submission of a further planning application.”
Newport City Council’s planning officers determined a screening opinion is not required with the application. Reporter A PENARTH restaurant has retained its Michelin star for 2019.
Restaurant James Sommerin in Penarth once again bagged the honour.
James Sommerin has long been one of Wales’ top chefs, whether at The Crown at Whitebrook, where he made his name, or at his eponymous Penarth restaurant.
The restaurant uses the finest ingredients, which are locally sourced where possible, allowing for fresh, fantastic food.
Michelin stars are considered to be the Oscars of the food industry and the new awards were announced via a live stream on the Michelin Guide Facebook page.
It was one of seven Welsh restaurants to retain their Michelin stars in this year’s guide.
While there were no brand new stars for restaurants in Wales, one Welsh chef was celebrating his first star.
Anglesey-born Tomos Parry, from Brat in Hackney, London, who’s renowned for cooking over open fire, was the first recipient of a new star for 2019.
The 32-year-old opened his restaurant just six months ago and already has famous fans like Bradley Cooper and Brad Pitt.
He recently was awarded Top Newcomer title at the London Restaurant Awards.
Among the restaurants from Wales to have retained a Michelin star is The Checkers in Montgomery – despite asking if it could give it back.
The restaurant has held a James Sommerin, at Restaurant James Sommerin, has retained his esteemed Michelin star Michelin star since 2011 but owners, Stephane Borie, Sarah Francis and Kathryn Francis, asked to not be included in the latest edition.
Stephane, according to the Shropshire Star, will be stepping out of the kitchen and work for private clients across the UK and Europe.
Michelin stars are awarded as one, two and three stars – there were 21 new single stars and three new sets of two stars, including for Gordon Ramsay’s protege Clare Smyth at CORE in London.
But no new sets of three stars were handed out. The five UK restaurants with three stars are Gordon Ramsay, Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester and The Araki, all in London, alongside Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck and Waterside Inn, both in Bray.