To ask whether you are aware of the NATO summit taking place in Wales in September?

[emsiewill]

If you live in South Wales you are probably aware that 82 of the world's leaders, including Obama will be at the NATO summit taking place at the Celtic Manor in Newport on 4 - 5 September.

If you aren't local, you probably aren't aware that this is the largest security operation ever undertaken in the UK. That steel fences have been erected around the Celtic Manor and all around Cardiff, already causing traffic chaos.

And that this is taking place a mile from my house, I am on the route of one of the "peaceful" protests, and, with the current conflicts taking place in Gaza, Iraq and Syria, I am shit scared that the summit will be targeted by militants of one persuasion or another, and I and my family and neighbours will be directly in the firing line.

So, if you are not local to me, have you heard about this summit?

I live 5 minutes from the Celtic Manor and the bloody helicopters today woke my baby up. I still can't believe they are holding it here, why, why?!? It is like the Ryder Cup again with all this talk of the Usk Valley...

The actual summit base is Celtic Manor, but there are 'events' at Tredegar House, Cardiff Castle, The Welsh College of Music and Drama and the Welsh Millenium Centre.

This is on top of thousands of support staff being resident at top hotels around Newport and Cardiff.

Emsie, hope everything works out fine.

I live just over the other side of the Wye Valley, but hadnt heard about it. We do tend to be in a little world of our own, over here, major story is when a sheep escapes and holds up the traffic.

I will have to read the Monmouthshire Beacon at the weekend when we go for our cappuchino in Waitrose

I've heard because my friend who lives there has been given time off work because of the traffic!

Is Celtic Manor that big massive gothicky building in the side of the hill that you see as you come out the tunnel? It always looks a bit spooky to me..

SexonBlake I would love to know who you are.

I've been to some study days at celtic manor sponsored by an evil formula company. Good lunch.

DH has convinced DS 3 that the fence in front of the castle is to stop O'Bama legging it into the Irish pub opposite because they don't have decent Guiness in America.

It's causing traffic problems this week and it'll be worse next week when the schools are back in. DS1 has a holiday job cleaning in a budget hotel chain and he says they're much busier than usual. DH1 works right by the castle and they won't be making exceptions to the road closures for the people who need to park at the office because of disability. Those people will have to work from home.

That's DH not DH1

SextonBlake you must live very close to me, as I'm also 5 minutes from the "Usk Valley resort".

More & more info coming out every day about various security operations...Rodney parade closed, vehicles parked at Llanwern steel works, vehicles at the TA base in Cwmbran.

But this thread proves my original point - pretty much no-one from outside the area has any idea this is going on!!

Oh yes, all deliveries for Celtic Manor need to go via an Army base ( could be TA, I'm not sure) in Pontypool and then go to the hotel under police escort after being security checked.

Those of you who are local might want to go along to the march on Saturday or to one of the lectures during the week?
www.nonatonewport.org/

You might want to ask how NATO makes its decisions to intervene in conflict situation? Who lobbies the members? Who do these decisions serve?

Why do they not intervene when 300 girls go missing?
www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/25/nigeria-schoolgirls-families-hopes-fade

What about Sudan? www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2014/aug/15/south-sudan-famine-lawlessness

All the money that is spent on weapons, the land mines that still cause havoc in South East Asia, the arms manufacturers who are never held to account, get out on the street and question all this done in your name!

You will meet interesting committed people who care about the Earth and the future of humankind.

You might even meet me!

ICanSeeTheSun Who I am? No one interesting i'm afraid

OP - I live by a big steep park with lotsa trees and a nice house.
Will I be able to get to Aldi tomorrow? Looks like they are marching over George street bridge.

I won't be marching, but it am interested to know what on earth will be discussed next week and what benefits this summit will bring to the population of this planet.

Has an agenda been published?

Quick search found this, (I haven't read it)
www.ies.be/files/private/12)%2520Kamp%2520-%2520NATO's%25202014%2520Summit%2520Agenda.pdf

Thanks. I've had trouble opening any links to that site, in fact any to do with the agenda!

I know about it. Mostly because I live within walking distance of both Cardiff City Centre and Cardiff Bay. I'm sure dog walking on 4-5th September will be a breeze

woke up this morning to 3 police vans outside by house followed by another 3 an hour later. we are about 10 miles from celtic manor and rural but right next to an army training ground and when i went out today there were about 100 police vans parked in its carpark. wnet past celtic and there were police atanding all around the coldra roundabout.

terror alert raised - yikes.

I am in Cardiff and there are police vans parked in the halls of residence across the road from where I work and right next to the nursery my son goes to.

Probably shouldn't be but I am feeling a bit wary about all this.

also Bute park have said "The gates in the security fence around the southern section of Bute Park will be closed between 12pm & 3pm on Monday 1st Sept. Therefore there will be no access into or through this area (south of education centre) during this time, please use alternative route."

Popped to the bank and eight different police vans passed me. The girls are supposed to go back to school Monday but I'm wondering whether it's even worth sending them. Lliswerry primary school is open both days 8:30am to 1:30pm which is very strange. MIL has to go into work. Can't say we're very happy about it when all other schools to our knowledge are off.

My friend who lives near to Barry has said that the Minor Injuries Unit at Barry Hospital closes today until the Summit is over!!

Why??? I really don't get this. It has to be one of the countries smallest MIU anyway - so what are they gaining by doing this?

So much for keep traffic off the roads. Where are they sending the minor injured people of Barry and the vale then??? - The Heath!!!! Personally I reckon I would head to POW in Bridgend.

Yep - am struggling to get that logic.

I know about it but I love half hour away. As long as they all bugger off out of Cardiff on the 6th I'm happy as I have a vintage fair I'm selling at in the city centre!

Westbound M4 from Wilts towards Bristol (& presumably beyond) has matrix signs warning" Nato 4th/5th September - please plan ahead" so a week's notice.

ICanSee - thank you for the link to the better version . Can't believe it wasn't posted in the first place.

As for the NATO summit I'm assuming they chose Newport so that none of the leaders would be tempted to leave the Celtic Manor. It's not like there's much to see apart from the god-awful train-station-cum-giant-metal-snail, the Transporter bridge which hasn't worked for a while, and people getting mugged.

The whole mugging thing was actually why Debenhams pulled out of the new 'shopping centre' when some higher-ups came to see the site.