Queues of cars outside the new Tesco store in Newtown.

Councillors in Powys have called on the Government to carry out an urgent safety survey on Newtown’s new traffic system following major disruption for drivers.

Traffic in the town has come to a virtual standstill ever since Tesco opened last month.

The superstore has been blamed for opening before work on the new lights system along Pool Road was completed.

Motorists have faced lengthy delays and emergency service vehicles have also been caught up in the chaos.

But the Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency and Tesco are believed to be working together to rectify the problem and have apologised for the delays.

At a Montgomeryshire meeting of Powys County Council in Welshpool yesterday, councillors called for an urgent safety survey to be carried out.

Councillor Wynne Jones, from Abermule, said: “I solicit the support of the Montgomeyshire committee to request that the trunk road highways engineers conduct an urgent survey at this junction, with a view to determining what improvements can be made.

“It is my concern that this junction could potentially be the cause of some serious accidents.”

Councillor Richard White, from Newtown, said he was worried that the new system had created “rat runs” with many people now choosing to travel down smaller minor roads.

Jeremy Patterson, chief executive of the council, urged members not to forget that the traffic problem had been in Newtown long before Tesco arrived.

He said: “What we need to ensure though is that the Tesco store opening has not made the problem even worse.”

Councillors agreed to write to the Welsh Assembly.