Welshpool shopping development put on hold

Plans to build a shopping complex in a Mid Wales town housing national retail names including Argos and Next has been put on ice, it was revealed today.

The multi-million pound retail development in Welshpool - which town chiefs hoped would bring a boost of hundreds of jobs - was due to be built following the opening of the new Tesco store, which is set to open on March 14.

But it was revealed today no retailers had signed up to the development, forcing Tesco to put the plans on hold.

It was hoped major names such as Argos, Halfords and Next would put pen to paper and commit to the town, with the units due to be built this summer.

But Tesco said despite "strong interest" nobody had signed on the dotted line.

A spokesman for the company said: "There has been strong interest in the retail units and once contracts are in place, the construction programme will commence."

But one worker on the development, who did not wish to be named, said there was nothing planned except Tesco at the moment.

He said: "All we know about is Tesco, there is nobody signed up to come to new retail units in the town, but you never know, that could change on a weekly basis.

"There have been rumours for months about who is coming, but now the Tesco work has been completed, there is actually nothing else to start on, nobody has signed up."

It was expected the new retail units could create hundreds of jobs.

Tesco has already created 189 positions, 100 of which have gone to people who live in the town centre, with 89 going to people who live in nearby towns and villages.

Robert Robinson, town clerk, said: "It is not for me to comment on this as it is Tesco who are dealing with it, but I know there has been interest, it is just getting them to actually sign up."

Meanwhile, Tesco has also hit back at rumours that the retail giant's Newtown store could close.

Rumours have been rife in the town in recent weeks that due to poor sales and bad feeling caused by the new traffic system the company could pull out of the town.

But the spokesman said: "I can confirm that the Newtown rumour is absolutely not true."

By Andrew Morris