AFTER months of controversy Coleshill residents can at last have their say on proposed plans for a new supermarket in the town.

Limes Developments Ltd have submitted an outline planning application to North Warwickshire Borough Council for a 1,000 square metre supermarket on the car park and former bowling green off Park Road in Coleshill.

Controversy has surrounded the development of the Park Road site since it was revealed that NWBC had negotiated the sale of the car park to Limes Developments Ltd who already owned the adjoining former Sons of Rest site.

The sale was provisionally agreed in February 2008 with a 'conditional contract' under which the borough council would only receive payment if it gave planning consent for a supermarket.

It was standing room only when residents gathered for a public meeting convened by local MP Mike O'Brien at Coleshill Town Hall last June.

At the meeting local residents voted 182 to one against development of the site as a supermarket.

Concerns were focused mainly on the possible loss of parking provision in the town and the likely impact on High Street trade.

Leader of North Warwickshire Borough Council, Cllr Colin Hayfield spoke in a statement printed in the Herald of his hopes that 'a new supermarket on the doorstep will encourage more residents to shop within the town'.

"Coleshill has been my local market town for over 50 years now and I have watched its slowly decline.

"I believe a development such as this could help arrest that decline."

The plans, available to view at Coleshill library, contain a layout and design of the new building.

All the documents are also available on the Council's website at www.northwarks.gov.uk/planningportal – the application reference is 2009/0154.

Comments should be sent to the Development Control Manager by Wednesday, May 20 at NWBC, South Street, Atherstone, CV9 1DE or via email atPlanningControl@North.