Meeting called over Newport markets rift
A meeting has been called to try to resolve growing differences between stall holders at Newport's indoor and outdoor markets.
Newport's Indoor Market, built in 1860, is open on Fridays and Saturdays, while the farmers' market, takes place in The Square on the third Thursday of each month.
But there has been some bad feeling between the two sets of traders with some indoor stall holders feeling that the outdoor traders are taking some of their business. This has led to some of the outdoor traders turning their backs on Newport.
Councillor Peter Scott has called a meeting on June 17 between both groups.
He said: "I want to try and find a way for the two markets to coexist.
"There is a concern from some of the indoor marketeers that there is an overlap in a couple of businesses at the farmers' market, like the fish stalls and the plants. Some of the farmers' market stallholders have given up as a result because they don't think it's worth the flack."
At its height the farmers' market attracted around a dozen traders and there was talk of extending it to twice a month, and even spreading out along St Mary's Street.
But recently just half a dozen stalls have been turning out.
Councillor Scott added: "Newport is known as a market town and therefore it should have markets.
"There can't be this bad feeling about who is selling what, where and how.
"We don't want either the indoor market or the farmer's market to fail because both are well appreciated by people. There has to be a solution."
Representatives from the Newport Market Trading Company have also been invited to the meeting, along with officials from the town's Chamber of Commerce and the Newport Regeneration Partnership.
