NEW stores will be opening soon at Halton Lea shopping centre.

Walmsleys Furnishing have exchanged contracts on Units One and Two.

They will start fitting out the store shortly and plan to open within two months.

The former Burger King site, which closed before Christmas, and Unit 48 are under negotiation.

A stationery retailer is interested in moving in.

JJB Sport is seriously considering expanding into the unit next door to catalogue giant Argos. This is substantially bigger than its existing store.

Fordgate, owners of Halton Lea, are confident their refurbishment programme is now attracting some big high street names.

The landlords spoke exclusively to the World this week about their latest lettings and gave us an update on the proposed Southern Loop development.

Renovation work is still being carried out at Halton Lea.

New ceilings and improved services access are currently being installed in the Town Square.

The scaffolding is scheduled to be removed by the second May Bank Holiday, May 26.

Some retailers who occupy units on the first floor of Town Square have complained that their businesses have been affected by the scaffolding.

Some claim they have lost trade because customers thought the stairs were blocked off.

David Davies, a spokesman for Fordgate, told the Worldthis week: "While it is not possible to cross Town Square, the stairs to the first floor gallery are fully accessible. We do not believe that shoppers would think they were not. However, signs will be going up imminently to make it clear that the stairs are still in use and access to the units on the gallery is unrestricted."

He stressed that Fordgate were still fully committed to the proposed Southern Loop development.

The £15 million retail and leisure complex on land between Halton Lea and the former Southgate was to have started months ago.

"The delays that were caused by the lack of availability of information on essential services (pipes and cables) is fully resolved and re-routings approved," he said.

Negotiations are continuing with prospective tenants and new retailers have expressed interest.

"We cannot at this stage give further details of specific plans. Such negotiations for major capital developments are always sensitive. We cannot and must not jeopardise them by giving away as yet confidential details.

"We are extremely keen to make major announcements about the development and will do so as soon as possible.

"The landlord remains totally committed to developing the Southern Loop as a high quality facility in complete harmony with Halton Lea - for the benefit of tenants and their employee and most critically of all for Halton people.

"As an example, the landlord now controls the busway area known as the stitching platform, so that it can be developed for effective access between Halton Lea and the Southern Loop development."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.