MORE than 150 protestors opposed to plans to turn a high street pub into a supermarket in Crickhowell gathered in the Breconshire town on Friday, March 26 to fight the proposals.

Punch Taverns, the owners of the Corn Exchange pub applied last month to the Brecon Beacons National for proposed internal and external alternations to the building sited at 54 High Street, Crickhowell, sparking outrage in the market town.

A spokesman for the brewery said: "We can confirm that we have made an application to convert the Corn Exchange into a retail unit. We are in advanced negotiations with a retailer."

An online campaign group was set up by the Beaufort Street based community group Totally Locally Crickhowell to fight the planned developments and organisers are hopeful of gaining 2,000 signatures on a petition opposing the idea ahead of a public meeting on Wednesday, April 1 at the town's Clarence Hall.

Protestors are hoping to stop the plans which they believe will effect their unique town. Totally Local vice chair Emma Bevan said: "Crickhowell's High Street is unique – made up almost entirely of family run businesses and a chain store would decimate the town. We don't want to lose our independent traders to unfair competition. It will destroy the livelihoods of local businesses."

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