THERE were mixed feelings at an exhibiton outlining current plans for a new Gwent Tesco superstore as traders made their concerns known to the public.

The £60 million proposed development at Risca, including the supermarket and more than 200 new homes, has generated a wide range of reactions from local residents.

The exhibition of the plans at Risca Rugby Club allowed people to give feedback before an application for planning permission is submitted to Caerphilly Council.

The store, situated on a disused industrial site along the river Ebbw, will create 500 jobs for local people and provide residents with a major supermarket on their doorstep.

But some feel it is unnecessary as there are already three supermarkets in the area, and traders fear their business will suffer from the competition.

Felix Gummer, Tesco's Regional Corporate Affairs Manager for Wales, said: "We feel this location is suitable because it's best to connect the store with the rest of the town centre.

"Many local residents are extremely keen to have a store much closer and we have already had people enquiring about jobs.

"The car park will allow people to shop and walk into town, it will be large enough to enable that, and people are very keen on having a new petrol station."

Many local traders feel the superstore will threaten their livelihoods and were keen to express their views to visitors at the exhibition.

"This could be the end for the shops of Risca because it will no doubt take our trade away," said Howard Powell, owner of Howard's Butchers on Commercial Street, and member of the Chamber of Trade.

"Everybody will be affected. They say there won't be a pharmacy or other extra departments but as soon as they get their feet under the table, I think more things will start opening."

Work on the site is aimed to start in September and the project is expected to take around 18 months to complete.

Residents' views Yvonne Mainwaring from Cross Keys said: "I go to the Newport Tesco because I like their products. It will be great to have one nearby."

Janice Tovey of Newport Road, Risca said: "There's already a Lidl, Aldi and Morrisons here so I don't think it's necessary.

I'm not going to say I won't use it, but I don't think we need it."

Michael Parker of Angela's Tea Room, Tredegar Street, said: "I feel very strongly that this will not help the town centre. The traders only survive on the public who can walk into the town centre or go in on the bus.

"This new development will only send people out of the town because the roads lead out. I feel this will be the first nail in the coffin for Risca and Pontymister."

Stephen Thomas from Pontymister said: "There are two ways you can look at it. There will be more jobs and it will provide more revenue for Risca, but at the same it will affect the town's trading infrastructure.

"A lot of people working in the shops have got faces as long as next week. However, the area's an eyesore at the moment so we've got to do something with it."