A local walker has lambasted the new B&M development taking shape on the banks of the canal just a week after fellow residents criticised it as an eye sore.
Whilst there is overwhelming support for a big retail name moving to the town, its scale and look have drawn both professional and public criticism, but this latest rant is sure to be a bigger cause for concern.
Paul Medland said he has walked past the site on the canal path every day for the past two weeks and claims it is having a negative and nasty impact on its surroundings.
“I have seen the state of the canal and canal pathway getting gradually worse, but this morning I saw how much it is now affecting not only the aesthetics of the canal but also the wildlife,” he claimed in a letter to us that was copied to a number of agencies.
“Debris from the B&M site is working its way under the temporary fencing and littering the path and grass areas and now entering the water itself.
“This debris includes polythene sheeting; plastic lids and containers and blocks of polystyrene packing material. Not only will these damage the ecology of the waterway, but as I observed this morning a duck surfacing after dipping had polythene sheeting wrapped around its neck which it struggled very hard to remove. Others were trying to eat the floating bits of white polystyrene thinking it was bread.
“The builders working on the B&M site need to be brought to task, made to clear the canal and path as a matter of urgency and take action to prevent reoccurrence.”
Welshpool Town Council said it will be contacting Powys County Council as a matter of urgency and a spokeswoman for B&M told us: “We’re delighted to be opening a store in Welshpool and we’re feeling really positive about the creation of new jobs for local people.
“We’ve not yet taken possession of the unit but we understand that there are builders on site on behalf of the landlord – we’ve been made aware of some concerns around debris from the build and have since been working with the landlord and their builders to ensure that it is rectified and that it doesn’t continue to happen.
“We can’t wait to open the doors and welcome customers into their new store later this year.”