MALVERN'S trade association says it is totally opposed to a plan by Safeway to enlarge its Malvern Link supermarket by more than 50 per cent.

The store wants to put greater emphasis on health, beauty and personal care, mother and baby goods, home entertainment and toys.

Robin Elt, chairman of Great Malvern Association of Trade, said: "We would be totally opposed to an extension like that.

"There is plenty of supermarket provision in Malvern already. A plan like this would be a knock to the existing shopping centres in the Green, the Link and Great Malvern.

"If we increase one store by such a percentage, it would imbalance the whole shopping pattern of Malvern."

A report with the planning application, submitted to Malvern Hills District Council last week by consultants DTZ Pieda, says: "It's not the intention that new-style Safeway stores will compete with existing town and local centres."

It adds that the impact on Great Malvern, the Link and Barnards Green would be negligible.

"The extended store would compete in particular against other operators on the retail park," it says.

The store would be the first of a generation of extended Safeway stores and could create up to 100 new part and full-time jobs.

A company spokesman this week declined to comment on the plan, which will be decided in due course by MHDC.

A similar application was made in January 2001 but was withdrawn by Safeway before a decision could be made.