PLANS for an Aldi supermarket creating 10 full-time and 20 part-time jobs, have been welcomed by civic leaders in Didcot.

Trade bosses said the store could revitalise Broadway, where shops have had to compete with the Orchard shopping centre since 2005.

German firm Aldi has applied to South Oxfordshire District Council to open the new 1,600 sq m store at the Jubilee Way roundabout, Lower Broadway.

The firm would demolish the existing Foam Company warehouse to build the store.

Chairman of Didcot Chamber of Commerce Di Chesterman, who owns No Two Things gift shop on Broadway, said: “Anything that brings jobs to the area and helps to reinvigorate Broadway is a good thing. When larger stores come in they bring new shoppers to the town so hopefully those people are also visiting the independent shops.”

The store would have a car park for 104 cars and 10 bikes.

Didcot Town Council has given its full support to the plan.

Council leader Margaret Davies said: “We like the whole idea of more competition.”

She said the council would ask Aldi for contibutions towards road improvements because of concerns about people leaving the supermarket and trying to cross traffic to turn right onto the Jubilee Way roundabout.

Dan Martin, 28, who lives in Mendip Heights, said: “Didcot is a rapidly expanding town – it makes sense to cater for the growing population.”

People can comment on the plan until December 18 and district councillors are due to make a decision on February 24.

Aldi declined to comment.