A BUDGET superstore has secured backing from residents as construction work nears completion.

Lidl is building a 1,400ft store on a former factory site in Kings Road.

Work is under way and the store is expected to open in early autumn, having begun construction in January.

The supermarket is expected to create 40 jobs.

Patricia Welford, a resident of Mitchell Avenue, will live a few streets away from the new store.

She said: “For a lot of people here, having a shop like this built is good.

“I haven’t got a driving licence anymore and I’m not that mobile, so to go to Lidl, “I have to rely on friends and relatives to get me to these places.

“Having a local shop means that I will finally be in walking distance from a supermarket, which is good because I can then go and get things as and when I need them, instead of waiting to go when relatives go.

“I’m definitely going there when it opens, so for me, the new shop will be a really good development.”

Younger shoppers were also pleased with the store.

James Coppen, 18, who lives in Gosfield, said he would also shop at the new Lidl store.

“He said: “I think it would make it a lot easier to shop.

“When going to a discount store like Lidl, if you wanted to go you’d normally have to travel to the one in Braintree.

“By having a local supermarket in the area, it is a good thing since it adds choice of where we shop, and that’s what we need.”

But not all residents were in favour.

One man, who asked not to be named, feared the supermarket would lead to more developments in Halstead.

He said: “First, you have a big company like Lidl coming to Halstead.

“The town gets bigger, and we all know what will happen with more people, the big development companies will come along and completely destroy Halstead for good.

“That’s all people will end up coming to Halstead for, and as a result no one will bother to come in to the town anymore. Halstead will suffer as a result of this development and people just cannot see this.”

Strong opposition has also come from rival supermarket stores.

The East of England Co-operative Society objected to the plans back in November 2015.

The Co-op owns stores in Abels Road and Weaver’s Court.

In the letter, the Co-op said it did not like Lidl’s proposed improvements to the High Street.

The letter said: “Despite minimal improvements to the visual aspect of the scheme along Kings Road, the design of the proposal remains utilitarian and boring, impacting on the Grade II listed buildings in The Causeway.”

The new store will feature 108 parking spaces and designers for the Lidl shop will make improvements to the roundabouts on Trinity Street and Kings Road.

A spokesman for Lidl said: “Construction is on track with a view to opening in early autumn.”