Shoppers flocking to the Centre 27 retail and leisure park in Birstall at weekends are facing severe traffic congestion because of major new roadworks costing £1.5 million.

And stores based there fear the problem will get worse as Christmas approaches.

They say closure of the privately-owned Oakwell Way while the road improvements are being carried out is also adding to the traffic chaos.

The scheme, which will be completed at the end of March, involves widening the A62 and Holden Ing Way and extending Oakwell Way.

It also involves creating a new junction with traffic lights and a new link road with traffic lights on the A62. Signs warning drivers to expect severe delays have already been put up.

The work is being funded by London-based developers Grantchester as part of their scheme to build seven units to house branches of high street retail chains and a 690-space car park off Geldred Road, opposite Ikea.

Richard Slater, security manager at Ikea, said: "We've had customers writing in and complaining verbally about the amount of time it is taking to get in and of our car parks because of the roadworks, particularly on Sundays.

"At weekends our staff direct traffic in and out of the car parks but we've also asked Kirklees Council's highways and police to direct traffic at the roundabout.

"I've got a meeting with highways on Friday to try to sort out the problem. The complaints started when Oakwell Way was closed.''

Ijaz Khan, sales manager at Comet, said: "The roadworks have come at the wrong time of the year. We expect to get complaints from customers about the congestion as it gets nearer to Christmas.''

Andrew Hodgson, the Council's highways engineer, said: "There will be more disruption after Christmas because the work at the moment is primarily off the highway.''

Sergeant Alan Kaye, traffic commander for the Dewsbury sub division, said: "I urge motorists to be patient. The end result of the roadworks will be a considerable improvement to the traffic situation at Centre 27.''

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.