New Oswestry cinema complex could open by mid 2015.
A £45 million cinema and shopping complex for Oswestry is a step nearer after contractors moved in to start work on a new livestock market next door.
Four years after it was granted planning permission work is finally under way on the site of the town's Smithfield.
A new livestock market will be created on part of the 32-acre site off the Shrewsbury road.
Once that is up and running the current market will be demolished and builders will move in a create the shopping and cinema project.
A five screen Cineworld cinema, a Morrisons supermarket, a Frankie and Bennys and McDonald's restaurants will all be build during phase two of the project.
Roy Jones, chairman of the Oswestry Cattle Auctions, said today: "This is the biggest development for Oswestry in a long time. It will bring people to the town. For me the cinema is the best part of phase two because people have to travel out of Oswestry for the cinema at the moment."
"Once building work is under way I believe more big names will come forward and want to take up a unit on the development.
Objectors to the scheme have raised fears that the new development will lure shoppers away from Oswestry town centre.
The current market moved out of the town centre on to the Shrewsbury road in 1967.
Diggers move in - See Page 13
