SOME independent businesses in Caldicot say they have suffered a steep drop in custom since the opening of an Asda store in the town last week.

Alan Rae, 48, owner of Clarke’s Butchers, on Newport Road, claimed he had lost £1,000 last week and 30 per cent of custom from this time last year due to the opening of the supermarket.

He said: “We’ve put it down to the opening of the store – it can’t just be a coincidence. It’s a big drop, if this continues week on week – we can’t carry on. I think we will be alright until Christmas but others could close.”

Plans for a link road to connect the Asda store with the town centre have now been delayed until the New Year.

Mr Rae, who has run the family shop for the past nine years, said he had concerns businesses would keep losing money until the linkage plans were implemented.

He said: “You can’t even see the village from Asda – there are no signs up or anything – how are the new people who come to Caldicot going to know we even exist?

“The original plan for the premises to link to the town wasn’t finished in time by the Asda opening – we want to be given a chance and for them to do what they said they were going to do.”

Cathy Edwards, of Country Flowers on Newport Road, said the town was a lot quieter last week and Helen Beveridge, owner of the Fudge Fairy’s Sweet Shop on Chepstow Road, said she had experienced a drop in customers.

She said: “I’ve had a decline in sales of about 50 per cent from this time last year. Last week I was down 40 per cent in custom. There has been no signage for pedestrians – they have no clue as to what else could be on offer. The council have been remiss in not putting signs up.”

No response has been received from Asda or Monmouthshire Council.