Mayor of Pembroke Dock, Clr. Andrew McNaughton, has spoken out this week against the closure of the town's market.

In a letter to the Observer, Clr. McNaughton said: "As the local town councillor for Market ward and also the current Mayor of Pembroke Dock, it is with great sadness that all the rumours we have been dealing with over the last six months about the possible closure/relocation of the market have been proved to be true, with the likelihood of the traders having to be out after the New Year."

He continued: "My family has lived in Princes Street since 1953 and in the general area since the war. Gran would go down to the market at 7 am every Friday to get her shopping for the weekend and arrange for the greengrocer to put aside fruit boxes for me to collect later to make kindling for her lounge fire.

"The market has always been a communal event every Friday for the residents of Pembroke Dock and some see their weekly journey to the market as their chance to catch up on the local gossip and meet some of their friends."

Clr. McNaughton said that to lose the market would have 'a devastating effect on these residents and will probably mean they will not have any reason to leave their homes at all'.

He added: "I have received numerous messages of disgust about the decision by Pembrokeshire County Council to consider closing a market which has been in existence for so long as a way of saving a pittance.

"I ask all of those loyal customers of Pembroke Dock Market to come down to the market and show your support and sign the petition that the traders have organised. I have set-up a group on Facebook, Save Pembroke Dock Market; you could also contact the county councillor for Market ward, Clr. Brian Hall, to tell him of your disapproval of the plans.

"We as town councillors have been pressing for information over the last four months. All we were told was all markets were under review and that no decision had been made, yet customers were coming in and telling the traders I hear you are moving.

"Some of the traders have been at the market for many years; the butcher is the third generation of his family to come to Pembroke Dock each week.

"Relocation of the market is very difficult. Due to environmental health regulation regarding sale of uncooked meat and fish, the traders have by law got to use hot and cold running water and use refrigeration to preserve the meat and fish. Moving to the Pater Hall, as was suggested in a recent letter, would be impossible."

When contacted by the Observer, a spokesman for the county council said: "The future of Pembroke Dock Market has been under review by the county council as part of a wider review of the council's markets.

"The market in Pembroke Dock operates each Friday in part of the market building.

"Discussions have been held with the Pembroke Dock traders with regard to finding an acceptable alternative location for the market, as the county council has proposals for the market building to be used for training purposes.

"It has not been possible to find a suitable alternative location to date and the county council is currently looking at the possibility of the market operating from canopied areas within the courtyard of the market building.

"Until an acceptable way forward is identified, the market will continue to trade within the market building.

"The county council will continue to liaise and consult with the market traders to find an acceptable solution."