REVISED plans to build a Lidl supermarket in Halstead have been criticised by members of the town council.

The discount supermarket applied to Braintree Council last year to convert the former EMD factory in King’s Road.

Last month planning experts submitted revised plans after Braintree Council requested a series of alterations were made to the design of the proposed food store.

The first plan showed King’s Road as the main entrance for delivery trucks but the revised plan has moved this entrance to Factory Lane West.

The Elizabeth Courtauld Surgery is situated on Factory Lane West and Halstead Town Council is concerned this could cause a regular build up of traffic in the area.

In a response the council said: “Members believe the revised plans in connection with entrance and egress by trucks to the site will put added pressure on movement of traffic in this area.

“The original plans showed trucks’ entrance/egress at Kings Road and the revised plans show it as now being in Factory Lane West opposite the busy junction into the doctors’ surgery car park.”

The revised planning application claims the new designs will be in keeping with properties on the western side of Kings Road.

They have proposed using brick bays to display large pieces of public art showing historic photographs of the railway.

Raised planting beds will be installed in front of the arch to “enhance the public realm on Kings Road” and to provide a suitable infrastructure to “allow the introduction of significant new tree planting to punctuate the roof line”.

The lay out of the car park has been amended in response to comments from Braintree Council to allow a larger area of landscape to be introduced on Factory Lane West.

A raised pedestrian crossing across the site access off Factory Lane West has also been suggested.

Demolition work on the old factory , which closed in 2009, began last November.