January 17 date for Welshpool one-way system

Welshpool's new one-way system will open this month.

The system has been delayed by roadworks and the cold weather, which left paving slabs frozen together.

But town clerk Robert Robinson met Tesco bo-sses and contractors yesterday for crunch talks designed to get a new opening date for road, which will allow the town's new Tesco store to open.

Mr Robinson said the new date has been pencilled in as January 17, providing the freezing temperatures and snow do not return.

He said: "I met with representatives from Tesco and the developers yesterday and we discussed the problems the workmen have faced in getting the work complete.

"First the gas works in Church Street held us up for a while because they had to dig up larger sections of the road than was planned and then the sub-zero temperatures left the stones literally frozen solid together.

"So we sat down and discussed it and providing the weather doesn't take anoth- er severe turn for the worst or another unforeseen incident happens, we are aiming for January 17. By this date we are hoping the road will be open and ready for motorists to start using."

Once the road is complete and operational, Tesco will open its new zero-carbon supermarket and 24-hour petrol filling station on the old Smithfield site.

The store is set to create up to 200 jobs and bosses say it should be open by the end of February. Three or four other major high street retailers are also in talks to open stores on the new development near Tesco.

It is hoped the shops will bring in new shoppers from towns and villages across the area who will also spend money in the town centre.