PORTISHEAD’S long-awaited new Sainsbury’s supermarket and petrol station will open later this month.

North Somerset Times: New Sainsbury's at Portishead.New Sainsbury's at Portishead. (Image: Archant)

The four-year project to build a new supermarket in the town will come to a head on October 29 when shoppers will have the chance to use the Serbert Way store for the first time.

The petrol station will open from Monday.

Plans for the £15million shop were submitted in 2009 and finally approved by North Somerset Council in 2011 but a legal challenge from The Co-Operative meant work on site could not start for some time.

About 270 full and part-time jobs have been created as a result of the development.

Manager of the new store Paul Morrison said: “It’s been a long time coming but we are all very excited about the fast approaching opening.

“The store is looking great and I know it will provide a fantastic shopping experience for the local community.

“I am also delighted with our new store team, which is made up of mainly people from Portishead but some are from Nailsea and Clevedon - they are just finishing their training in the neighbouring Sainsbury’s stores.”

As well as welcoming a new supermarket to Portishead, residents will also be pleased about the introduction of a new petrol station.

Queues regularly form outside of the only other filling facility in the town - which is based in Station Road - resulting in the busy Cabstand junction becoming frequently blocked.

Portishead’s own lifeboat trust will also benefit from the opening of the new shop after it was announced the cause has been nominated as its charity of the year.

An official opening of the supermarket will be held at 9am on October 29, when the ribbon will be cut and music will be provided by the North Somerset Young Musicians’ Society. Bags for life, designed by a pupil at St Peter’s Primary School, will also be given out.