AS many passing motorists will have seen, work has begun on the long-awaited 22,000 square feet Town and Country Store for Mole Avon Trading Ltd, the 3.5 acre site at Wellparks on Exeter Road, Crediton, where the company will be relocating from its current smaller site on Mill Street, where it has been since 1973.

“This is Mole Avon’s biggest venture to-date and we are delighted to be making this major investment in the town”, says Mike Haines, managing director of Mole Avon.

Mr Haines added: “We have invested in our Okehampton and Axminster sites during the past three decades and it is great that now, with this site at Wellparks, we have a solid platform on which to support our continued growth.

“We are very excited about the opportunities this multi-million pound store provides us in holding fast to our core commitment of serving our traditional farmer base whilst increasing the breadth of the products and services we offer the wider community.”

John Lee, chairman of the board of directors for Mole Avon Trading Limited, added: “I am delighted that Mole Avon has taken another significant step forward in the process of relocating our Crediton store with the commencement of works at the Wellparks site.

“This is great news for the communities we serve, the people currently working with us and for those we will need to recruit in the near future.”

Stephen Walford, chief executive, Mid Devon District Council, commented: “This development represents a significant new investment in the town, will create new employment opportunities for the people of Crediton and will contribute towards the continuing growth and profile of Crediton as a place of commercial opportunity, as well as being a desirable residential location.”

Alan Quick