PLANS for a food store on a busy Malvern road would cause such an increase in traffic congestion that lives could be put at risk, claims a top fire officer.

Ian Seward, station commander at Malvern Fire Station, is objecting to the proposal for a Lidl supermarket which is due to be discussed by district councillors on Monday.

A car park and road alterations are included in the plan for the discount shop, which could be built on the former site of Eurohaus on Worcester Road if it is approved.

More than 75 letters of objection have been sent to Malvern Hills District Council with the majority of people worried about the impact the store will have on road safety. Only one letter of support has been received.

"We're concerned about an increase in congestion at certain times of the day," said Mr Seward.

"Although the store isn't right next door to the fire station it could still affect the time it takes us to reach a fire.

"A small car park has been planned and there are proposals to reduce the width of the road to allow shoppers to turn right.

"There are also bollards on this stretch of road and it would mean we couldn't overtake traffic with our appliances and delay our response times.

"We have to reach a fire within eight to 10 minutes, but if there's no way to get past a queue of cars, we could start missing these targets.

"It's not the actual store I'm concerned about but the new road configuration which is being suggested," he said.

Planning officers are recommending refusal on the grounds it would harm the special character of the Malvern Link Conservation Area.

"It would also have an unacceptable impact on adjacent residential properties and local amenity and be harmful to highway safety," says the report.