THE man who has led a campaign against the new Morrisons near Lysaghts Institute has hit out at the area’s city councillors.

John Palmer of Corporation Road, Newport, said councillors were “dreaming if they feel there will be no negative impact on local people.”

Lliswerry councillor Allan Morris said that responses to the supermarket development - part of a £50 million Linc Cymru scheme to rejuvenate the Lysaghts Institute and the surrounding area - had been very positive.

But Mr Palmer, who has collected a petition of well over 1,000 names against the scheme, insists there will be traffic implications for Corporation Road.

“Clearly residents living in St Julians, Maindee, Caerleon and Beechwood won’t take a detour to the city centre or to the Coldra roundabout to use the Southern Distributor Road,” he said.

“A lot of the traffic for the superstore will use Corporation Road and create a rat run which will overwhelm Somerton Road, Cromwell Road and Nash Road.

Councillor Allan Morris stuck by his comments yesterday.

“I do not see how a supermarket on the SDR is going to have an adverse impact on local businesses on Corporation Road,” he said.

Newport Council said the matter likely will be decided upon by planning committee in October.