SUPERMARKET chain Lidl has hailed a public consultation on plans for a second store in Carlisle a success.

The German grocer has expanded rapidly, with scores of new stores across the country in recent years, including several in Cumbria.

The retailer - which currently has one store at Madford Retail Park on Charlotte Street, Denton Holme, in Carlisle - unveiled multi-million pound proposals to create another branch on land adjacent to Botcherby Community Centre, beside Warwick Road, in October.

More than 80 people attended the event to voice their thoughts on the development at the community centre on October 28.

Since a consultation was held, Lidl has said that more than 300 feedback cards have been returned by residents.

Of those 300 written responses, 60 per cent of people indicated their support for the plans, the supermarket said.

If approved, the site off Warwick Road would be developed into a supermarket with 1,256 sq m of sales area and 146 car parking spaces, including disabled and parent and child spaces.

The second branch would create about 40 new full and part time jobs.

Lidl say that it would aim to improve safety for pedestrians and road users at the Warwick Road and Victoria Road junction by supporting the installation of traffic lights.

David Murphy, Lidl GB regional head of property, told The Cumberland News: “We’re grateful that so many people were able to attend and take part in our public consultation event, and it’s great to already see so much support for our plans.

“Through the consultation process many people have said to us that they support our plans because they would like to see more shopping choice in the area.”

Some of the key points that emerged from the consultation were issues around flood risk - after it was revealed that the store would be built on flood-prone land.

However, Lidl state their planning application submission highlights that there will be no increased flood risk due to this development.

After the plans were first made public earlier this year, an online petition was launched to force the supermarket chain to backtrack on their plans for the store in the Botcherby area, with critics citing the potential for flooding and traffic concerns.

The petition was signed by more 390 people after it was set up by 23-year-old Rebecca Mooney.

A previous planning application by Lidl to build on the site was withdrawn in December 2015 and a revised application has now been submitted to Carlisle City Council.

A decision on the development is set to be made by city councillors in due course. Comments can still be viewed on the city council’s website.