PLANS for a controversial new supermarket in Guisborough town centre are set to be given the go-ahead.

Lidl has submitted the scheme to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and planning officers have recommended it for approval following a lengthy consultation period.

The scheme has divided opinion across the town, with 127 people signing a petition to oppose the plans, while exactly the same number wrote to the council in support.

Supporters claim the store will provide valuable competition while offering reasonably-priced goods for people on a limited budget.

Objectors maintain the siting of the store will create traffic problems and questioned whether the town needed a new supermarket in close proximity to another one.

According to the report, members of Guisborough Town Council were split 50-50 on the benefits or negative aspects of the scheme.

The mood in the town centre remains mixed.

Mother-of-two Jane Fryatt said: “It will be really handy to have a smaller shop that still offers a good choice of foods. I’ve never shopped at Lidl before, but will certainly give it a go once it opens.”

Pensioner Mary Morton said: “It will help many old people who don’t have as much money to spend on shopping and it is close to the town centre.”

But Brenda Smith said: “The town doesn’t need anymore supermarkets; we already have two and they must have had an effect on the smaller shops.”

Gary Potts added: “We will have to see what happens to other businesses if and when it opens, but I don’t think it will really bring much to the town centre.”

The store would include a car park with 100 spaces and would be on a bus route between residential areas and the town centre.

It would be on land designated for commercial use which has other shops in the surrounding area, including a Focus DIY store.

Aldi has also submitted plans to build a new store on vacant land in a commercial area off Spring Wood Road, off Rectory Lane, behind Guisborough Medical Centre and next to the Focus store.

The borough council planning committee is expected to make a decision on the Lidl proposal on Thursday, when members meet in Belmont House, Rectory Lane, Guisborough.