The highly-anticipated opening of a Home Bargains in north Wales has caused chaos in a small town, with horrendous traffic meaning shoppers had to wait half an hour in car park queues. Prestatyn opened its new and improved Home Bargains store on Saturday, December 3, which saw many shoppers travelling across the region to see what was on offer.
The huge site is on Gas Works Lane in Prestatyn, which is three times the size of the town's existing High Street store, and features an in-house bakery and garden centre. The new store opened at 8am and was reportedly busy consistently throughout the day. The new shop is next to the already busy Parc Prestatyn Retail Park and one shopper described the traffic as "hell on earth" when trying to leave the area.
North Wales Live reports shoppers arguing in the car park and people waiting 30 minutes to exit the area due to a four-way traffic light system allowing vehicles to and from the High Street. One person took to social media, writing: "Donât bother coming into Home Bargainâs , youâll get in the car park but you wonât get out." Another commented: "Absolutely mental - traffic is horrendous - you take root waiting to cross and then take your life in your hands getting into the store."
READ MORE: Home Bargains to close all stores on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day
Locals suggested that the current traffic system needed to change, to allow more vehicles to leave the junction at a time. One woman said: "That part of the bottom of town right next to main bus stop and big shopping park is probably already the busiest point in our town, thereâs five crossing lights for pedestrians in a very small square, itâs the main point to get to most places in what is really a small town. It has not been thought about at all, the tail back of traffic is like something you would see in a city at points.
"We donât have the right infrastructure in place for all these big businesses and what it brings to the town there will be an accident soon, itâs mayhem." Another said: "That was always going to be the problem there unless they can alter the traffic lights to allow a bit longer on the set from the bus station."
Another shopper added: "Whoever designed the traffic flow system, whether it's Denbighshire County Council or other independent body, need to be called up to quantify the flow system. It is entirely inadequate and will cause accidents and delay any emergency services. It is an absolute farce."
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