REDDITCH residents have voiced their concerns over plans to build a new Lidl next to Arrow Valley Country Park.

The application for the proposed supermarket on Battens Drive will heard by Redditch Borough Council’s planning committee on Wednesday (November 25).

Applicants Woodbourne Group Redditch seek to demolish of the existing Arrow Valley Health Club, before building the discount food store.

However, members of the public took the council’s planning website to object to the proposals.

Mr Ben Kirby said: “Although it would be great to see this current eyesore put to good use, the plan to build a supermarket here is wholly inappropriate on the grounds of increased traffic, congestion, pollution and safety at a major access point to Arrow Valley Country Park and surrounding areas.”

Mr Anthony Poole said: “This is not the place to site yet another food store in Redditch, if anything, this should be sited in the town centre. Not near a public park and green space.”

Mr David Butler said: “The council must reject this application and be promoting empty units in the kingfisher centre to attract more retailers of this nature.”

Kingfisher Limited Partnership (KLP), which owns the Kingfisher Shopping Centre also object to the plans. They submitted a document with alternative town centre sites that they believed could accommodate a similar sized Lidl store.

The council’s portfolio holder for leisure Mike Rouse confirmed that his department also raised concerns.

A response posted on the councillor’s website said: “Arrow Valley Country Park car parks could be impacted with overspill from the shoppers from the retail store at key times. There are key annual events at Arrow Valley Country Park that operate a Road Closure at Battens Drive. This is to prioritise health and safety and eliminate the conflict of vehicles and pedestrian crowds accessing the park.”

Woodbourne Group Redditch has been approached for comment.