CHEPSTOW Town Council has been forced to re-think its monthly high street markets initiative after receiving a wave of complaints from local shop keepers. Traders are expressing concern over the monthly pedestrianisation of the high street, which they claim is damaging their profits and adding to the town's traffic congestion. Councillors have heard from six traders, and had to decide at their monthly meeting last Wednesday (25th June) whether or not to scrap the scheme, which began with its first market on 26th April. Mayor Ned Heywood opened the discussion by saying: "We have to look at the number of complaints and decide. Do we continue with the pedestrianisation, modify it, or abandon it? "In some ways in Chepstow we suffer from our history and our geography. The road system is prone to blocking up and it is very difficult to produce new routes around town." One retailer who has been in touch with the council is Louise Burton, director of Country Clutter. She said: "I am writing with concern regarding the monthly market coming to Chepstow on a Saturday and its associated street closures". "As a retailer, we have found this has damaged our trade considerably on what is usually our busiest day of the week. It is not bringing more people into our shop but significantly reducing foot fall sales by an estimated 45 per cent." This has been added to by Alan Tyson at Chepstow Outdoors. He wrote: "I have also had customers express concerns, after the event, at the long traffic delays they experienced when trying to get in and out of the town that day. All access to the main car park was down Moor Street, into Welsh Street. "The parking area at the top of Moor Street created a single lane contraflow for traffic in both directions and long delays were caused by vehicles not being able to get into the town." Councillors discussed a range of proposals such as moving the market to a Sunday, improving signage around the road closures, or potentially moving the road closure from the arch down to Bank Street. It was finally decided to leave the market as it is until the end of the year to give it a chance to grow. Councillor Paul Rutter said: "I'm highly in favour of keeping this going for the year and evaluating it at a later date. "A number of those who have complained did not get involved in previous surveys and consultations. They have had the opportunity to have their voice heard at a more appropriate time."