MORE than 800 people have signed a petition opposing the building of a new superstore in Malvern Link.

The petition was due to be handed over yesterday (Thursday) to Malvern Hills District Council.

Lidl, the German-based chain, has applied to build a store on the former eurohaus garage site at the bottom end of Malvern Link.

But the proposal has aroused the wrath of local people, who fear it will make the Link's traffic problems even worse.

Tom Falcon, of Chillerton Court, off Worcester Road, said: "We have gathered, I think, 811 signatures opposing the plan. Of all the people we spoke to, only a few said they wanted Lidl to come to the Link."

Residents fear that drivers will start using residential roads behind Worcester Road to avoid snarl-ups in the lower Link.

"We took the petition around the roads that will be most affected, like Worcester Road, Lower Howsell Road, Church Road, Farley Road and Richmond Road," said Mr Falcon.

"I've lived here for 15 years and the traffic has got worse all that time. You've got the Lower Howsell Road and Spring Lane junctions, and two 24-hour garages, and emergency vehicles coming through six times a day.

"I don't know anywhere else where a supermarket has access directly off a main road like this.

"When they built the Co-op years ago, they made sure access was not off Worcester Road."

Organisers hope the petition will persuade councillors to oppose Lidl's plan. The plan is scheduled to be on the agenda of MHDC's southern area planning subcommittee meeting on Monday, June 4.

It is not yet known if they will be recommended for approval or refusal.