We desperately need this submission by Lidl to go through, as the local shops and high street are dominated by the Co-Op (when it comes to food stores), and their prices are outrageous for what they offer.

A pro-customer retailer like Lidl would force shops like the Co-Op to compete and lower their prices; competition is a good thing for customers, and this is also something the local community desperately needs.

Having a quality and value for money store such as Lidl in this location would drastically reduce our 'carbon footprint' and would be a step in the right direction in bringing new businesses to the high street.

Fair Trading Laws also dictate freedom of choice and competition. Currently and for decades residents of Newport Pagnell have unreasonably been denied choice due to the monopoly exercise by the three Co-Op stores in the area. If a survey were to be done where residents do their preferred weekly grocery shop, it is more than certain the results would indicate: not the Co-Op!

Finally, MKC please do the right, courageous and honorable thing, and grant planning permission to Lidl. Thank you

I understand concerns others may have over the impact of increased traffic, but hope that the experts have done the due diligence to ensure that it will be minimal. And hope also that traffic might be eased if anything with cars etc. turning off the road and into the Lidl carpark at peak times.

Newport Pagnell is a large and densely populated town that is served mainly by the Coop Food group, alongside some smaller independent news agents. To this end, those that cannot drive have little option but to shop locally at hugely inflated prices – public transport links to supermarkets in other areas are poor to say the least, frozen goods might not make the return journey.

Consideration should also be given to those on or below the poverty line, it seems that much of the opposition to the new supermarket comes from affluent residents who can afford the higher prices at the Coop, or that have their own transport with which to travel to supermarkets in other areas – this is just plain unfair.

The general feedback on the Newport Pagnell General Chit Chat Group, a closed group hosted on Facebook, seems to be in support of the supermarket.

With the advent of more and more new housing estates being built, it seems that the requirement for a supermarket cannot be avoided for ever.

It should be noted that Lidl appear to build in a very low impact manner, their new store in Wolverton (with its 4 supermarkets) is proof of this. I’d sooner see a Lidl built than a Tesco, who it seems don’t consider their surroundings or neighbours as closely when building their stores.