Plans for a new Aldi superstore near a major roundabout have been “recommended for refusal” over concerns the increase in traffic “could cause collisions.”

The proposed store will, if approved, be built close to the junction of De Havilland Way and Chorley New Road, near the Beehive roundabout in Horwich.

But following concerns expressed by residents, Horwich Town Council voted unanimously at a meeting last Wednesday to refuse the plans.

Cllr David Grant, interim leader of the Horwich and Blackrod Independents, said: “The decision was unanimous because we were concerned it is a very dangerous junction.

“If you’ve got traffic at rush hour and you’ve got traffic coming out of the supermarket then we believe there could be the danger of collisions there.”

He added: “We’re not opposed to the store itself, its just about the safety concerns it could cause.”

The Bolton News:

An artist's impression of the new store

The proposed site, sold off by Bolton Council in June last year, would be made up of food store with a sales area of 1,315 square metres, with additional warehouse, staff and office facilities, totalling 1,804 square metres along with 145 car parking spaces.

Cllr Grant explained the town council only had the power to recommend refusal, rather than take the decision itself, but this would then be considered by Bolton Council.

He said there were also concerns expressed about the effect it could have on other businesses and on footfall in Horwich town centre and he hoped to hear how these could be addressed.

Cllr Grant expected to see the matter brought to Bolton Council’s planning committee in the coming months.

The area’s Liberal Democrat group has also claimed a survey carried out by Horwich Town Councillor Gordon Stone found that of 100 homes around Claypool Road and Chorley New Road, just five were in favour of the proposal and 65 against.

But Aldi has said that it hopes to bring new jobs to the area and that it will employ local contractors to build the site.

The company already has a branch on Mason Street, Horwich about a mile from the site, one of around 800 across the UK and Ireland.