Centre hit by delays

It was planned to open in April but now it could be September before most of the shops are open.

The launch event, Didcot Enjoy, due to feature Chitty Chitty Bang Bang flying down The Broadway on June 18, has been postponed to ensure most of the work is complete.

Didcot Chamber of Commerce has been forced to reschedule the event for September 17 because of delays to building work, which South Oxfordshire District Council said were caused by knock-on effects from earlier problems.

A council spokesman said the project was now at the 'snagging' stage, giving both the developer and the council a chance to iron out any problems with the contractor before the site is formally handed over.

She added: "We have identified a number of snags that need to be dealt with before Taylor Woodrow and the council take it over as completed."

"We're in the hands of the contractor at the moment. Until we have accepted the site, we're not able to set a date for retailers to move in."

The council was confident the site would be formally accepted by the end of the week, following a meeting between officers, Taylor Woodrow and the contractor. The centre was sold to LXB Properties last month.

Meanwhile, Wallingford's traders say that after two years of disruption during the development of the new Waitrose store, the town is back in business.

Wallingford Business Partnership wants to be rid of the north/south divide created by the move of Waitrose across the town.

Its campaign includes:

Posters in shops and on buses

A loyalty scheme paying for shoppers' first hour of car parking

Using the old Waitrose shop as a temporary advertising space for local goods and services and

A series of special weekends aimed at bringing people into the town.

Partnership spokesman Dee Cripps said: "We have had two years of disruption with the development of Waitrose and other sites in the middle of town. But now the Business Partnership says with all the strength it can -- Wallingford is back in business."