SUPERMARKET giant Tesco says it is still committed to rebuilding a flagship store in Yate despite hefty delays to the project.

The company told the Gazette there had been a number of hold-ups in the planning process which meant plans to put up a temporary supermarket this month were behind schedule.

Spokesman Dan Bramwell said: "There have been a few technical difficulties we have had to go through as part of the planning process, because of a number of changes in planning."

Tesco has planning permission to demolish its existing supermarket and rebuild a glass-fronted two-storey Extra store on stilts. Work was due to begin building a temporary store in East Walk in January but construction has been postponed indefinitely.

When the temporary supermarket is open, the current store will then be knocked down so work can start on the new Tesco Extra.

The new supermarket will sell homeware, clothing and electrical items as well as groceries and essentials. Because of the amount of shoppers the new store is expected to attract, Tesco had to pay for the biggest traffic review of Yate ever undertaken by South Gloucestershire Council.

The review will see several changes along Link Road including the creation of single access to the bus terminus, two traffic islands opposite the Total garage prohibiting drivers from turning right into and out of the shopping centre and filling in the underpass to the overflow car park.

The whole stretch of carriageway on Link Road will be widened to make way for an increase in traffic and further changes could be made to the double roundabout next to Morrisons and B&Q where Station Road meets Goose Green Way and Link Road.

Mr Bramwell said a road closure order for Link Road was close to completion.

"The road closure order has very nearly been finalised and that will be the trigger for other things to start happening," he said.

"We are still addressing technical difficulties but the schedule is to start on site this year."