The indoor market is in the centre of Carmarthen

Four options for re-developing Carmarthen town centre were unveiled on Tuesday.

All involved the re-location of the provisions market to a new purpose built site despite a petition by 34,000 people calling for it to remain where it is.

The proposals drawn up by property developer Simons involved a Debenhams department store, cinema, multi-storey car park and new shopping units.

Carmarthen will become like any other faceless town where all the shops are the same Martin Morris

Council leader Meryl Gravel said market traders would benefit from the scheme.

"We do not want to close the market. We want Carmarthen to be the main market town for the whole of Wales," she said.

"At the moment the market is a concrete shed that is too cold in the winter, too hot in the summer, and has pigeons flying around and doing what comes naturally."

'Rhetoric and jargon'

If there is overwhelming opposition to all four options then the authority says it will look at alternatives.

But Labour councillors said they had little faith in the consultation process and claimed the re-location of the market was now a 'done deal'.

The party has made it a pledge for next year's local authority elections that it will keep the market exactly where it is if it wins power from the Independent and Plaid Cymru coalition.

Labour leader Martin Morris said: "Thirty-four-thousand people have said to Carmarthenshire council they want to keep the market where it is.

Martin Morris said Labour would keep the current market hall

"If you cut through the rhetoric and if you disregard the jargon it is very much a done deal.

"Carmarthen will become like any other faceless town where all the shops are the same.

"Debenhams will drive all the small traders from the town.

"Believe me if we come to power next year the market will stay right where it is."

Won over

Representatives from the developers, Welsh Development Agency and county council were meeting with traders to outline the options on Tuesday afternoon.

But Carmarthen councillors were divided over the scheme.

Ken Maynard said he had been won over by what was on offer.

"It will improve the market," he said.

Arthur Davies said: "The consultation has basically been a farce from the start.