TRADERS hit out at plans to build a superstore on the site of their outdoor market, saying it will destroy the individuality of Newport.

Asda announced their intention to buy the cattle market site in Pill last week, depending on whether or not they got planning permission for the store.

The American-owned chain said they would invest £25 million in the area and provide 400 jobs.

But traders who have worked at the popular Saturday market for decades said the development would be "devastating" for small shops in the area, and added that many of the market traders would have nowhere else to go.

Darren Fettah, who has run a fruit stall at the market for 20 years, said: "Closing the market will be devastating for the city.

"Local people who run small shops won't be able to survive this, and hundreds of traders will have their livelihoods taken from them. People in the middle of town are going to suffer tremendously."

Kevin Harwood has run a household goods stall at the market for 20 years. He said: "There are enough Asdas around. If the owners want to sell the site they can, but they are putting a lot of people out of work.

"A way of life is being lost. People like coming to this market - they come from all over and they always come back."

Bernard Dowbler runs a butchers on the site in Pill, and said the individuality of the area would suffer a blow.

He said: "I've traded there for nearly 20 years, and we look to the market for our livelihood. And now they're taking it away from us after all these years.

"At the moment I have no other ideas for where we can go. There's no site like it in Newport. Supermarkets are everywhere. Anything that's a little bit different can't ever survive."

A spokesman for Asda said: "We would hope that Asda will be good for the area - it's bringing a lot of jobs and investment to Newport. "Many of the issues the traders have should be addressed to the landlord of the site. We responded to a competitive bid process that was the vendors' idea."

l What do you think? Would a new Asda store be a good thing? Or is it another nail in the coffin of small retailers? Write to the Editor, South Wales Argus, Cardiff Road, Newport NP20 3QN or email letters@gwent-wales. co.uk