A Powys town is set to be plunged into traffic chaos with the opening of a new supermarket next week, an action group leader has warned today.

Philip Glynn, of the 21st Century Newtown Action Group, claims the town will be brought to a standstill when the new Lidl supermarket opens its doors on Thursday.

The store will be on the busy A483 road, which Mr Glynn said was already brought to a halt by the volume of traffic every day.

He said: “The town is now waiting for the traffic chaos when Lidl opens. I was driving through the very heavy traffic at the Lidl site earlier this week and I noticed a Powys County Council van parked on the pavement with a man busily using a notepad this morning. He was watching the traffic, which was already horrendous at 7.45am.”It was announced last month that Government officials are to consult the public on long-awaited plans to build a bypass for the town to rectify the situation.

A Welsh Assembly Government spokeswoman said: “We are anticipating holding a public consultation on the proposed Newtown bypass scheme in the summer of 2009.”

Earlier this year a firm of traffic consultants was appointed to investigate ways to reduce traffic in the town, with a bypass being one of the hot favourites.

Councillor Bob Mills, member for Newtown South, said he hoped the police would organise a diversion on Lidl’s opening day.