Tivyside | Archive | 2002 | February | 26
From the Tivyside Advertiser, first published Tuesday 26th Feb 2002.
Scores of people over a wide area who shop at a popular fruit and vegetable stall in Newcastle Emlyn on Fridays, have hit out at the town council and chamber of trade, who want an end to the operation.
Chris Thomas has run his weekly business in the Mart Car Park for the past six years.
But the council and chamber are calling for him to go, despite his business attracting a large number of people to the town.
At a meeting of the town council last week mayor Cllr Alan Jones said: "He is taking up more and more room, and Carmarthenshire County Council have told me they will keep an eye on him.
"Personally I don't think he should be there at all. He doesn't pay rates, and some traders in the town are finding it difficult to make ends meet because of high rateable values," he said.
But Mr Thomas contends his business is an asset to the town. "Many people have said that if we go they won't come to Newcastle Emlyn," he said.
"I pay rent, my business attracts people from a wide area, and there is obviously a spin off for traders in the town," he said.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008