Decision due over Welshpool one-way system

Crunch talks were under way over the start date for Welshpool's one-way system. Town clerk Robert Robinson was due to meet bosses from Tesco and system developers today.

It was originally planned to open the traffic system on January 12, but the pre-Christmas cold snap held work up, with paving stones freezing together, and no new date has been set.

But Mr Robinson said that was likely to change within the next 24 hours.

He said: "I am meeting with representatives of Tesco and the developers today and will find out what the latest is and when they expect it to be ready by.

"Someone said to me it could be as soon as Sunday, but with my experience looking at it, I will be very surprised if that is the case.

"Sadly, the delay can't be helped. When we had the snow and sub-zero temperatures for a prolonged spell in the run-up to Christmas, the paving stones which were delivered ready to be laid were frozen solid together.

"But after the meeting I expect to have some firm news."

The system was delayed from an early December start after gas mains work resulted in the closure of Church Street and more extensive excavations than planned.

New developments on the system now include a yellow box junction in Berriew Street to make things easier for lorries turning in and out of the Berriew Street car park.

Once the road is complete and operational, Tesco will open its new supermarket and petrol filling station on the old Smithfield site.

The store is set to create up to 200 jobs for the local community and bosses say it should be open by the end of February.