A £25 MILLION superstore opened yesterday bringing trade and jobs to Wrexham.
Customers flocked to the new Morrisons 73,000 square foot store in Ruthin Road, bringing traffic to a standstill.
The launch of the store, which has created about 300 jobs, comes at the end of almost two years of legal and technical wrangling over access to the site, which was once a Wrexham Council depot.
A year ago, the Leader revealed how work on the store was halted over fears by Welsh Ambulance Service chiefs that traffic generated by the development could hamper 999 emergency calls from the ambulance station next door.
Bryan Martingano, store general manager, declared yesterday’s opening a success and said they would monitor traffic over the next few days.
He said: “We were overwhelmed with customers.
“We've had a bit of a road block with customers trying to get in. I think the traffic is because it’s open day, I would have thought things would level out in due course.”
A spokesman for the Welsh Ambulance Service said they had no reports of traffic delays influencing ambulance response around Wrexham yesterday.
He said: “The new road layout has provided quicker and safer access onto Ruthin Road for the ambulances which avoids the road into Morrisons.
“Before the changes the ambulances would have used that road to get in and out.”
It was not until this spring that the argument was resolved and a new access point was agreed after months of behind-the-scenes discussions between all parties concerned.
The new store has an emphasis on fresh food and in-store theatre, with the preparation areas opened up so customers can see butchers, bakers and fishmongers at work.
“We've got a fresh market, when you walk in all you can see is fresh food,” said Mr Martingano.
“We've taken the fresh concept to a whole new level. People have been blown away by the range of fresh food we’re selling. People were standing to watch the fishmongers preparing the whole fish we had on show.”
The new store also has a petrol station, cafe and flower shop.