OWNERS of businesses in the centre of Magor fear a new supermarket in the area will damage trade.

Monmouthshire planners gave permission for a store on the site of Magor Motors at The Mill.

Although traders in Magor Square have voiced concern about the proposal, there is also support from local people for the scheme by Mr Rod Morgan at the Magor Motors site.

Mr Morgan, whose family has been in business in Magor for 60 years, said the store would be aimed at people doing their weekly shop and would not compete with the Budgens convenience store.

He also said the store would attract more people into Magor and could lead to more customers in Magor Square.

But both Mr Marcus Ostler, who runs Budgens, and sub-postmaster Nicola Riordan-Whild expressed concern about the impact of the new store on Magor Square.

Mr Ostler said: "There is capacity in Magor for another store but the site will damage Magor Square.

"The store will compete directly with all the businesses - people are not going to come into the Square if they can get everything in the new store.

"I've nothing against Mr Morgan and in his position I think we would all do the same, but the site is not ideal for Magor Square."

Ms Riordan-Whild said there were empty shops and undeveloped land in the centre of Magor but the development would be outside the centre.

She added: "It would severely damage the vitality and viability of existing businesses."

The 10 letters supporting the plan welcomed the extra competition and improved parking.

Planning officers said the new store would increase choice and was likely to generate trips to other businesses in the centre of Magor.