THE long-awaited linkage scheme between an Asda in Caldicot and the town centre has a start date more than two years after the store was opened.

The project to improve pedestrian access between the town’s centre and the supermarket was due to be completed in October 2014.

However delays from the end of the landlord, London & Cambridge Properties (LCP),have continually pushed the scheme back, much to the displeasure of residents and local councillors.

Work is now due to start on Monday February 13 after it was once again delayed from a rumoured start date during this month.

The first phase will focusing on the south side of the Waitrose car park and is set to finish by March 17 from which the second phase on the north end will start.

All work is estimated to be completed by April 7.

A spokeswoman for LCP said: "We are pleased that work on the linkage scheme is due to start in February and we anticipate a completion date of the end of April.

"We believe these works will benefit shoppers and the overall appearance of the area."

The scheme is being partly funded by Monmouthshire County Council, with the local authority covering additional costs of £23,000.

Funding is also being provided by LCP and Section 106 funding from the Asda development.

This brings the total investment into the linkage scheme to date as £224,685.

The scheme itself focuses on redesigning the pre-existing Waitrose car park to accommodate wider spaces, with the entrance and exit running directly from Woodstock Way to reduce the number of vehicles moving from the link road.

Debra Hill-Howells, head of community delivery at Monmouthshire County Council, delivered the news to members of Caldicot Town Council's planning committee last week.

Speaking to the Free Press this week, Caldicot town mayor David Evans welcomed the news but remains apprehensive about the start dates.

He said: "At the last Severnside meeting we were given a January start date, that was assured but then we got an email saying that London & Cambridge couldn't stick to that date in January and had pushed it back.

"The people in Caldicot have been hearing this for the last three and a half years and I just hope that they can stick to this date."

Aaron Reeks, one of the directors of the community group Caldicot Town Team, also admitted to remaining cautious but optimistic.

Speaking after the planning meeting, he said: “Caldicot Town Team are pleased that we finally have some actual dates we can look to for the work to start on the linkage, just like the rest of us though, it concerns us if this project will ever happen.

“The linkage will absolutely make a positive difference not only to the safety aspect of visiting the town centre from Asda but aesthetically as well."