MARKET traders are threatening to leave a Valleys town for good unless the council temporarily relocates them.

A major redevelopment of Blackwood's bus station is due to start in January, but market traders in neighbouring Market Square say they will leave Blackwood unless offered another site elsewhere.

They claim dust from the building work will ruin their stock. They also say they face a huge drop in customers as they will no longer walk through the square to the station.

Traders say the work needs to be done, but they want the council to offer them an alternative site for the 35 weeks it will take.

The market traders' representative, June Fletcher, who has run a flower stall there for more than ten years, said most of the traders are looking at moving to new markets.

She said: "If they move while the work is taking place then why will they go through all the bother of coming back? Blackwood needs a market. This will take the heart out of the town."

Fellow trader Andy Graham has brought his rug and mat stall to Blackwood for a decade.

He said: "My stock will be ruined if there is any dust polluting the air. I won't be here come January.

"This isn't the only market I come to. I will do extra days at the others instead."

Trader Mindy Singh is already looking into where he can move his clothes stall.

He said: "I am thinking about moving to Newport market.

"It will be a huge shame not to come to Blackwood anymore.

"I will miss my customers, who I have been serving over the last decade. But I feel there is nothing we can do."

Mr Singh said: "The council should have been keeping us informed. Instead, it is three months before works start and everyone is still not sure what is rumour and what is fact."

Local councillor Kevin Etheridge said: "It will be a sad day for Blackwood if the market closes. It has been here for decades and is vital to the town."

The redevelopment of the bus station into the Blackwood Interchange was delayed until January after stallholders said they would lose vital Christmas trade.

Demolition begins in January and will take three weeks. The work will not take place on the market days of Tuesday, Friday and Saturday to reduce disturbance.

The council also plans to erect hoardings to separate the building works from the square.

Construction of the new interchange will take about 35 weeks and is expected to be completed by October.

No one from Caerphilly council was available for comment as the Argus went to press.