Motorists braced for chaos in town

Motorists are facing traffic chaos in a Mid Wales town after temporary traffic lights were installed to allow work to be carried out on a shop front.

Traffic was brought to a halt on the busy crossroads of Berriew Street, Broad Street, Severn Street and Church Street yesterday as its set of traffic lights in Welshpool were replaced with single-direction temporary lights, meaning traffic from only one direction is allowed to move at a time.

And the lights are set to remain for up to a fortnight.

Councillor Ann Holloway, town mayor, said: "The chaos in town yesterday was terrible and people were queuing all up Broad Street and High Street waiting to move."

Powys County Council said the lights were in place so work could be carried out on a shop front in Church Street.

The temporary lights are adding to the headache facing motorists on the main A483 road which bypasses the town. Temporary lights are in place near the Salop Road junction onto the bypass, as workers install a new drainage system to the new livestock market being built on land off the Buttington Cross roundabout.

John Evans, council communications manager, said: "The temporary lights are in place due to work being carried out on a shop in Church Street which will require scaffolding and a diversion taking pedestrians onto part of the road."