A budget supermarket could open in the town centre in the near future.

An application has been submitted to Swale council to carry out alterations to the former Focus store in West Street, Sittingbourne, in preparation for it to re-open as a Lidl.

The proposal is for a 115 square-metre rear extension to accommodate warehousing and staff-welfare requirements, plus changes to the car park, exit and entrance and shop front.

A single vehicular access point from Dover Street is proposed for customers and delivery vehicles.

A total of 73 car parking spaces would be provided, including four disabled and three parent and child bays. There will also be four short-term secure bicycle spaces.

As the site already has permission to operate as a business, approval is only needed for the alterations, meaning planning officers have the power to make a decision.

They should have done so a week ago, but the process was delayed after the proposal was called in by Cllr Roger Truelove.

He said nearby businesses claimed they didn’t know about the proposal and had not been able to submit objections.

Those now expected to write to the local authority about their concerns include West Street News and Best Off Licence on West Street.

Cllr Truelove said: “Their fear, quite understandably, is competition. They’re saying the little shops will suffer.”

The application is expected to go before planning committee members when they meet at Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne, next month.

• To see the planning application in full, visit www.ukplanning.co.uk and search for reference number SW/13/1398.