Work start date set for controversial Kingswinford Lidl store
Building of a controversial new supermarket is due to start in November with the store set to open its doors late next year, it has been revealed.
Budget chain Lidl was given permission for the new store on the Duckworth Trading Estate, in Stallings Lane, Kingswinford, earlier this year.
And fencing has now gone up in preparation for work to begin at the site, which runs along a busy main road.
The first phase of the scheme will see existing buildings at the site demolished and the land cleared to make way for the new store.
This work is expected to begin in November with the actual construction of the new supermarket starting soon after.
Businesses and councillors in the area said this was the timescale they had been given for the scheme, which is expected to create around 40 new jobs.
Leader of the Dudley borough's Conservative group, and Kingswinford councillor, Patrick Harley said he was pleased to see work starting at the site.
"The fencing started going up over the weekend and has now been completed," he said.
"From what I have been told the demolition of old buildings will begin in November and the construction will start soon after.
"My understanding is the plan is to open the new store towards the end of 2014 – certainly in time for Christmas of that year.
"I for one welcome this development.
"It will bring jobs and more trade into Kingswinford and that will be very welcome," he added.
A worker from nearby Kingswinford Auto Services said he too had been told demolition would start in November.
The scheme proved controversial following its announcement with bosses from the Mid-Counties Co-operative, which has a store in nearby High Street, hitting out at the scheme.
They feared the opening of a new supermarket could take shoppers away from the centre.
But when agreeing the scheme councillors said they believed the town was 'big enough' to accommodate another supermarket and it would provide 'healthy competition'.
