Newport Indoor Market safe from council cuts, say owners

Newport Indoor Market, which operates at its base in Stafford Street on Fridays and Saturdays, is independent of the council and run separately, according to a spokesman for Newport Market Company which runs the site.

But the town's outdoor market, which is held on the third Thursday of every month in The Square and The Buttercross, is under threat. It comes after the council announced it would be cutting a number of services, including council-run markets, in a bid to save £30 million in two years.

A number of other markets including ones in Madeley, Hadley, Dawley, Ironbridge and Oakengates could be cut in a bid to save the council £20,000 per year.

The spokesman for Newport Market Company said: "The Newport Indoor Market operates on Fridays and Saturdays from 8am to 3.30pm each day and is long established. It is quite separate from the once a month council-sponsored outdoor market that could now be closing.

"The owners and traders of the weekly indoor market are working hard to promote the market and welcome both existing and new customers to see its wide range of produce and products each week."

Another service that could face the axe in Newport is the town's library. Other libraries under threat include ones in Madeley, Donnington, Stirchley, Dawley and Hadley.

By closing the six libraries the borough council hopes to save £530,000 per year in staff and costs.

Other services that could also be cut include play areas, youth clubs, school services and community centres.

Councillor Lee Carter, the council's finance chief, said the authority had no choice but to slash frontline services after already making £80 million worth of cuts and axing more than 1,000 jobs since 2010.

Consultation on the plans will start this week and run until February 7.