DISCOUNT store operators Lidl have vowed to overcome objections and set up shop in Witney.

Their plans for an outlet at Ducklington Lane, next to the drive-in McDonald's, was thrown out by West Oxfordshire district councillors last week.

But this week Lidl has told the Gazette it would be putting in new plans, and was confident it would succeed next time round.

At the same time, Europe's biggest discount store operator, Aldi, has registered formal plans with the district council for a supermarket in the middle of Carterton.

German-owned Aldi, which has more than 300 outlets in the UK, wants to build a supermarket on land opposite Carterton town hall, in Alvescot Road.

On the site at 10 and 12 Alvescot Road is Dowleys Garage and several empty business premises. There is also space for a car park, and the land has been designated, in local plans, for shops.

The town's population has been growing with a major new housing estate at Shilton Park, and has a Co-op and Somerfield supermarkets.

Town councillor Adey Coomber said this week: "If you'd asked a year ago, the public might have reacted differently.

"But things are different now. Because of the credit crunch, I think local opinion would welcome more competition and choice for shopping."

The district council's lowlands planning sub-committee refused a Lidl discount store at Ducklington Lane on design and highways grounds.

Lidl claims it also has a good public demand case for their Witney store.

Richard Taylor, development executive, said: "We had a public open day in Witney, and since then have also had a lot of positive feedback.

"Without a doubt, this is not the end of the road. We own the site and will be sitting down now to come up with revised plans to overcome objections.

"The major stepping stone - is there a retail need? - is accepted by the council. We will be working up higher-quality designs with our architects and meeting the objections about traffic.

"I understand the council's concerns, and we will be addressing them in our second application."

The rejection of Lidl's application has been greeted with disappointment in comments on the Witney Gazette website.

Laurie Williams, of Witney, said: "I think it is a shame . . . Witney is growing and cannot continue to support the size of the town with one main store, Sainsbury's."

Geoffrey Jones, of North Leigh, said: "This is typical of Witney. The shops, etc, being built on Marriotts Close, will cause far more traffic problems than the proposed Lidl store . . . Witney needs another store now. Councillors, please wake up."

Vicki, from Carterton, commented: "I think it would be prudent to let the townspeople know precisely where public favour stood in this matter - because the majority of support was for the store . . . I will be keeping my fingers crossed that the Aldi application for Carterton does not suffer the same fate."

The district council's planning department pointed out that it received 28 emails and letters from the public on the Lidl application - 18 in support and ten against, which included five from commercial operators in the town.

The Aldi application is likely to come before the council's lowlands planning sub-committee in early September.

Source: Witney Gazette