WELL-known High Street retailers are considering opening in Caldicot, it has been revealed.

The catalyst for the interest is the development of a new Asda superstore on part of the Caldicot School field on the edge of the town centre, a public meeting was told.

Aaron Reekes, of the Caldicot Town Team, told the meeting: "There are some big players who are interested.

"They are waiting for the new Asda and the new linkage (with the town centre) and we are hoping that within a year we will see a much bigger uptake of businesses in the town centre.

"We've been speaking to the landlords. They are on board and fully prepared to make some real changes to their units and the business offer in the town centre – they've got some great incentives for new businesses coming in."

Work has started on the supermarket, which is expected to open by Christmas. The development will also include pedestrianising part of Woodstock Way to make it easier for people to get to the town centre.

The town team, which was set up nine months ago, is becoming a community interest company, to give it the powers to have a say in how a windfall for the town from the Asda development is spent.

Mr Reekes said: "There is no limit – there a lot of money coming into Caldicot and we can really make some massive changes.

What we need is the involvement of everyone. We are a bunch of doers. We want to make changes to put the community pride back into Caldicot to get more footfall into the town centre and get businesses flourishing."

He said membership of the team is open to all and rejected claims it is a closed group.

He added: "There are clear lines of accountability, we welcome the scrutiny.

"Any money to be spent will be voted on by the community. They will be in businesses, we're hoping to get them into surgeries and will be in the library, the one stop shop and leisure centre so there are plenty of opportunities to get involved."

The only vote restricted to members would be for the leadership at the group's annual general meeting which will be held at Caldicot School on Thursday, June 19 at 6pm.

The annual general meeting will start with a public forum at which anybody can ask questions.

The public meeting at Bethany Baptist Church heard a number of complaints that people who had filled out membership forms had not been contacted.

Kellie Beirne, Monmouthshire County Council's chief officer for regeneration said: "The council is handing the power to local people. To hand that power to you we need a vehicle and the best vehicle is a town team.

"That isn't a closed group. Together you decide on the best solutions for Caldicot.

"It is just a group of doers who want to do tangible things in the town centre. Instead of having a go, join them."