Welshpool to get three 'huge' retailers

Three leading high street retailers have signed up to open stores in a Mid Wales town as part of a major redevelopment, it was revealed today.

The "huge" companies are set to open in Welshpool along with a Tesco store which is on course to open at the end of February.

Robert Robinson, town clerk, said today that only one shop on the development was still to be filled.

He said: "I can't reveal the names of the retailers who have signed up but they are huge high street names that we are thrilled to welcome to Welshpool.

"They will be located close to the canalside by the new Tesco store which is set to open in the back end of February and will be a zero-carbon building.

"We are delighted as a council with how things are going so far because instead of sitting here and doing nothing we are trying to get people into the town.

"The new supermarket was always going to come. That has been on the agenda for 15 years, but we have tried to make the most of it.

"Tesco on its own is not going to draw people to Welshpool. But the addition of these other stores will do and they will in turn bring people to Tesco as well.

"We are hopeful that this will set the town up for the foreseeable future and a successful one at that."

Mr Robinson added that work on the one-way system, which is due to open on December 6, was also running to plan.

Last week, it was revealed that up to 200 jobs are being created with the opening of Tesco.

A recruitment drive will be launched before Christmas and Sophie Akokhia, spokeswoman for Tesco, said plans were under way to open by the end of February.