Lidl Kingswinford store go-ahead despite objections

Councillors backed the retailer's plans for the development on the Duckworth Trading Estate, in Stallings Lane, which will create 40 new jobs.

It comes after bosses from Midcounties Co-Operative, which has a store in Kingswinford High Street, hit out at the scheme.

They feared the opening of a new supermarket could take shoppers away from the centre.

But councillors said last night they believed the town was big enough for another supermarket and said it would provide 'healthy competition'. There had been nine letters of objection to the plans and five letters of support

In a letter to the council planning department, property consultant Richard Holmes, working on behalf of Midcounties Co-Operative, said the Lidl plans would 'affect the vitality and viability of Kingswinford town centre'.

Mr Holmes said: "It is inevitable that any store built away from the town centre must draw trade away from that centre. No account has been taken of the expansion of Morrisons."

But planning officers had recommended the project was approved and councillors backed the recommendation. Councillor Colin Wilson said he had been surprised by the application as Morrisons already has a store in Stallings Lane and is planning an expansion.

But he added: "There is a large population there and I'm quite sure that both are sustainable." Councillor Sue Roberts said: "It's only right that there is healthy competition."

The discount foodstore will be built on land opposite Charterfield Drive on the site of a furniture warehouse store, according to plans. A 70-space car park will surround the store with a new entrance off Stallings Lane.

Multi-million pound plans to demolish the Morrisons supermarket and replace it with a 40,000sqft development, creating 70 jobs, have already been approved by the council.

The schemes are just two of a number on the cards for Dudley borough.

Planners have approved three separate rival regeneration projects for Dudley town centre, which all include supermarkets.

They include the Porters Field project which will see Cavendish House demolished to make way for a modern store and a stylish public piazza.

A separate plan for a supermarket to replace the office block has also been submitted by another developer.