A PETITION of more than a thousand names against a proposal to convert a Caerleon pub into a convenience store has been handed to a city councillor.

Yin Loo, of Spar, in Station Road, Caerleon, said 1,250 people signed a petition against the application to Newport council to convert the Angel Inn in the village’s High Street.

She said the petition has been given to city councillor Gail Giles, who represents Caerleon, to be handed in to Newport City Council.

Between 300 and 400 people attended a public meeting on the plans at Caerleon Town Hall on Tuesday night, said Ms Loo.

Representatives of the Newport planning department listened to residents’ concerns about the scheme, said Ms Loo, including worries that the small roundabout near the Angel would not be able to cope with the cars using any new store.

She added that if a large operator came people feared that Caerleon would be like any other area in Newport.

The building’s owner did not attend, she added.

Hillvale Properties has applied to convert the Angel public house into a shop employing up to 35 people.

The store would be 385 square metres in size, but as of yet no operator has been named for the store.

A report to Newport planning said a number of retailers have expressed an interest.

Tesco is not interested.

If given the go-ahead, outbuildings would be demolished to make way for an extension, with two residences to be created on the first floor.