COUNCILLORS emphatically turned down Aldi's application to open a new supermarket in Abbey View Road, Pinvin.

Overall, 13 Wychavon District Councillors rejected the application, with one abstention, in order to preserve Pershore's independent shops.

Cllr Bradley Thomas, said: "Pershore is a unique town, due to the number of independent shops it has and there are not the same amount of empty shops in the town centre as many towns of a similar size.

"I am not being anti-competitive, far from it, but I don't want to see the town's vibrant retail offering being threatened."

Cllr Liz Tucker, the ward member for Pinvin, also raised the issue of traffic problems in the town increasing.

She was worried about the notorious Station Road and Wyre Road junction issues becoming even more pronounced if an Aldi was built.

Cllr Tom Noyes, who represents Droitwich, said he did not want to see the same thing happening to Pinvin as in Droitwich.

He said: "A couple of years ago an Aldi was approved in Droitwich and since then there has been a B and M Bargains and plans for a Lidl in the town.

"There are more supermarkets than you can shake a fist at."

Residents at the back of the meeting, who had come along to see the Aldi decision muttered "shame on you" as councillors made the decision to reject it.

The Aldi would have had 101 parking spots with 1,254m² net retail floor space, just off the Wyre Piddle Bypass roundabout.

The plans were submitted to Wychavon District Council in July 2017 and were recommended for refusal by planning officers.