SOUTHAMPTON residents have expressed their fury over plans for a new controversial food store on a disused police station site.

More than 120 residents gathered at a public meeting to protest against Lidl’s planned redevelopment of Shirley Police Station fearing increased traffic and noise pollution.

The discount supermarket chain aims to build a new store – double the size of its nearby Janson Road premises – with 125 parking spaces, creating 15 new jobs and retaining 30 from the existing store, which is earmarked for closure next year.

Former Millbrook councillor Steve Galton, who organised the meeting, said: “I was concerned about the lack of knowledge of such a major redevelopment and because of these concerns that we need to ensure these concerns are addressed.

“We want to see Lidl revise their planning application so the communities concerns are taken into account.”

Councillor Jeremy Moulton, Freemantle councillor feared the new store will cause ultimate chaos through increased levels of traffic.

He added: “There have already been 24 accidents at the Villiers Road Junction in the last five years so we do have serious concerns about the development.”

One resident, who has lived in Kingsley Road for the last 14 years said: “The traffic assessments that have been undertaken were completely laughable as they don’t accurately predict exact traffic flow, they need to go back and predict traffic flow exactly.

“This consultation has also not engaged with the local community as I only found out this week.”

Another anonymous resident, a former LIDL employee who lives in Shirley said: “The existing lorry deliveries at the Janson Road store have been completely disruptive to local’s, particularly with the noise.

“I fear for the residents on Villiers Road who will have to face the awful sounds these lorries will make at all hours of the day.”

In response, James Mitchell, Lidl UK’s regional head of property, said thousands of residents has been involved in the consultation.

He added “We are constantly looking to improve our existing store offering for our customers, and the proposals for the new store mark a multi-million-pound investment in the local economy. We have provided a good consultation that has engaged more than 16,000 local residents.”

Millbrook councillors David Furnell, Sarah Taggart and Mike Denness have also been canvassing local residents to have their say on the issue as the battle against Lidl continues.