Building of new supermarket due to start 'imminently'

Lidl was first granted permission to build the new store on part of the Duckworth Trading Estate, Stallings Lane, Kingswinford, and earlier this year received further approval to expand the original scheme.

Fencing has gone up around the site and signs saying the new store is coming soon.

Officials from the supermarket giant today said work had already been taking place to clear the site.

And construction is now set to begin shortly - although an exact date has not been set.

The amended application was to incorporate a larger area by 0.32 hectares taking in further vacant units around the trading estate.

A 115-space car park will also be created as part of the proposals.

It is expected to create 15 full-time and 25 part-time positions.

Spokesman for the firm Nicole Benford said: "The work that has taken place so far is to clear the site.

"We expect the construction work to begin imminently."

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'.

Councillor Patrick Harley, ward member for Kingswinford, said: "Work has been taking place at the site.

"If the site has not been totally cleared of the old buildings it is certainly getting near.

"From what I have been told the early phase of construction will be getting under way soon."

Plans for the new supermarket were first announced in January 2013.

Hundreds of people attended an event to see the first plans for the new store - with the vast majority signing a petition in favour of the new supermarket.

Some had concerns about extra traffic being created along the already busy Stallings Lane.

But most were in favour of the scheme saying it would bring 'more variety' and jobs to the area.

Permission for the supermarket was originally granted in June 2013.

Before the revised plans were submitted work was originally set to begin on the new supermarket last November.

The store is expected to be up-and-running by the end of this year.