A SUPERMARKET chain is seeking to build a new store on land used as part of a popular community event.

After a public consultation, Lidl has submitted a planning application to West Berkshire Council to construct a new store on land at Ravenswing Farm adjoining Aldermaston Road and Silchester Road, in Tadley.

The proposed development comprises of the construction of a new Lidl food store including a customer car park and delivery bay to allow for the delivery of goods to the store.

However, the proposal would impact the use of the Saunders Field site, which is the home to the Tadley Treacle Fair, organised by the Loddon Valley Lions Club.

This has raised concerns among residents and the community group.

A design statement submitted to the borough council read: “Lidl regards the application site as ideally suited to meet its requirement for a new discount store to serve the local community.

“At present the application site is underutilised as grazing pasture.”

It added: “Currently there is a limited choice of food stores in Tadley, and no limited assortment discounters.

“Local residents are therefore forced to travel to discount stores in Basingstoke, Newbury or Reading.

“This current proposal to invest in Tadley and provide a new discount store should therefore be welcomed as it will provide increased choice and competition and reduce the need to travel.”

The proposal will be on 2,177sq of land and will be accessible via the A340 Aldermaston Road with pedestrian access into the site is from the southwest corner of Aldermaston Road.

As part of the application, the proposed car park will cater for 127 cars and two motorcycles.

The planning statement went on to read: “As part of their pre-application consultation exercise Lidl also opened a dialogue with the AWE and it has been confirmed that both the Ministry of Defence and the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) have no objections to the proposed development.”

For more information on the application or to make a comment on the plans go to publicaccess.westberks.gov.uk and search for the reference 19/01063/COMIND.