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WALLINGFORD residents welcomed the possibility of budget supermarket chain Lidl opening a store in the town.

South Oxfordshire District Council has admitted that German food chain Lidl is "one option" for the former Waitrose site, which has stood vacant for almost three years.

Lidl has become a popular store in the UK and is renowned for its basic products sold at low prices.

Lidl acquisitions manager Stephen McDonald did not deny the company was interested in the site and said: "We are looking at a number of opportunities - and a number of sites across Oxfordshire."

Waitrose spokesman James Armstrong said: "Our landlords have refused our requests to grant any form of lease extension that would help us secure a new occupier. We understand the importance of finding a new occupier and have been specifically targeting food retailers to take over the site, however, the existing leases expire in December 2009, which makes it difficult for us to attract a new tenant."

Wallingford residents said they would like to see more diversity in the town's shopping. John Allen, 65, of Castle Lane, said: "It is a fantastic idea. That site has been unoccupied for a very long time and I am surprised that Waitrose is continuing to pay for the rent.

"Everybody has said there is an absence of a competitor, particularly in these days when everybody is watching their money much more carefully.

"A low-price competitor to Waitrose would be a very good idea. When Waitrose increased in size, a number of small independent businesses were swallowed up, including a butcher and greengrocer. If you are trying to save money, by the time you drive to Didcot to visit Tesco, you have spent the money you would have saved."

In 2005, Waitrose moved from its St Martin's Street site to larger premises further up the road.

Richard Neale, 60, of St Leonard's Lane, said: "In the present economic circumstances, this might be the best one can expect.

"Rural towns are not necessarily middle class honey pots and Waitrose is rightly or wrongly seen as being upmarket and it has certainly been promoted as a key development but Wallingford is a very diverse population.

"For somebody who wants basic food and certainly in the current circumstances of economy and the way it seems to be going, Lidl might be very popular."

KP Stationers, who will move next door to the site next month, also welcomed the idea.

Assistant manager Amanda Farrimond said: "I would think it would be a good idea as the nearest Lidl is in Reading. I think Waitrose need competition and it would bring more people into the town."

Suzanne Malcolm, the district council's economic development officer, said: "We will be speaking to a lot of players like Lidl, but also other retailers to see if they will be interested in coming to the site. Lidl is one option, but there are also other options we are looking at."

Lidl has a 1,200 sq metre store in Watlington Road, Cowley, and earlier this year it disclosed plans to build an 800 sq metre store on a site in Ducklington Lane, Witney.

3:42pm Wednesday 25th June 2008

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