Shoppers and businesses in Royal Wootton Bassett have had their say on a new Lidl supermarket that has been described as "another nail in the coffin for the high street".

And not many of them agree with that assessment.

Plans to build a new store on the edge of the town were approved by Wiltshire Council’s planning committee on Wednesday, September 13.

The Marsh Farm store will be built not far from rival budget supermarket Aldi.

The controversial plans have been amended and deferred several times with some residents concerned that the Lidl store will draw shoppers away from town centre supermarkets and businesses.

“If Lidl opens it will be another nail in the coffin for the grocers, bakers, butchers, Sainsbury’s, chemists and other shops on our high street,” said Kathy Fazel.

“Even the florist could be affected because people will just pick up a cheap bunch of flowers while they’re at Lidl instead of taking a trip to the florist on the High Street,” she added.

Despite these concerns, shop workers and business owners in Royal Wootton Bassett’s town centre have said they are not worried.

“I don’t think we will notice much of a difference, mostly because we already don’t get a lot of people coming through here,” said Isabel Pattinson, manager of Ducklings Toy Shop in Borough Fields shopping centre.

“Everything’s already out of town anyway. We’ve been here for eight years and it has been that way for a while now.”

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Royal Wootton Bassett High Street is pretty quiet, according to shop workers.Royal Wootton Bassett High Street is pretty quiet, according to shop workers. (Image: Newsquest)

“There’s just not a whole lot to lose,” added Ady from Marshalls Bakery across the road. "Have you taken a walk down the High Street? It’s not exactly booming."

Hannah Lambert, who works in Oxfam in the town centre, believes the new Lidl will add a great new option for locals.

She admitted the charity shop does depend on customers who come into town for Sainsbury's, but she doesn’t think that this will change.

“Most people are brand specific, and you're always going to go to the one you like the best," she said. "If you're a Sainsbury's shopper, you're always going to go there, if you like Waitrose then you’ll go to Waitrose.

“So a couple of shoppers who come into town for the Sainsbury’s might now go to Lidl instead, but I don’t think it will be a significant number.

“I think that for families who are on a tighter budget, the new option to go to Lidl is great. It’s going to create more jobs and it’s nice to have a cheaper option for those who want it."