A GREEN light has been given to a bid to build a new discount supermarket in Stowmarket, creating 25 jobs – despite misgivings about location and concerns from competing stores.

A GREEN light has been given to a bid to build a new discount supermarket in Stowmarket, creating 25 jobs – despite misgivings about location and concerns from competing stores.

Officers at Mid Suffolk District Council had recommended councillors reject the proposal because the proposed Bury Road site was too far from the town centre.

Objections were also received from two rival stores but members of the council planning committee hailed the plans as choice-boosting asset for the town.

Mid Suffolk District Council yesterday granted Petrol Hypermarkets Ltd planning permission to build a Lidl food store at the former Willowcroft service station site in Bury Road.

Discount chain LidI UK GmbH, who already have 300 stores in the UK, would provide 15 full-time and 10 part-time jobs in the town.

Stowmarket Town Council recommended the food store got the go-ahead, but Asda objected arguing that they intended seeking permission to extend their shop in the town's Meadow Centre.

David Shaw, town planning consultant, also objected because his client Boden Projects are considering applying for a discount food store on part of the Waterworks site in Stowmarket.

Bette Jones, an Independent Labour district councillor for Stowmarket, said: "This will give people another choice.

"I hope people come in from the villages and support it and help keep Stowmarket viable and live.''

Wendy Marchant, a Liberal Democrat district councillor, said: "There are a lot of council and privately owned houses in this area and it has easy access from the A14 and is on a bus route. It will be an asset to Stowmarket.''