PLANS for a new multi-million-pound supermarket employing up to 40 people have been given the go-ahead after attracting massive support.

Thousands of people signed an online petition backing an application by discount giant Lidl to open a 2,432 sq metre store on vacant industrial land near the centre of Ringwood.

The supermarket – due to open next year – is one of several schemes that aim to transform a former factory site in Wellworthy Way.

It was approved at a meeting of the district council’s planning and development control committee on Wednesday after only a brief debate.

New Forest councillors heard the reaction to the Ringwood scheme had been “extremely positive”.

Jason Gratton, head of Lidl UK’s south coast property team, said: “The overwhelming support includes a petition with 5,693 signatures, more than 2,300 comments added to the Go Petition website and 55 support e-mails sent direct to Lidl, with only eight objections.”

Mr Gratton said the £6million scheme would create up to 40 jobs.

He added that the supermarket would attract more shoppers to Ringwood, helping the town claw back some of the trade that was being lost to existing supermarkets elsewhere.

A report to councillors cited the growth taking place in Ringwood and said the store’s impact on town centre businesses would be “insignificant”.

It added: “The Sainsbury’s store in Ringwood is currently trading below the company average by around 17 per cent. However, there is no evidence to suggest that the store is likely to close.

“Turnover levels of between 20 per cent and 30 per cent below company levels are not uncommon.

“It is unlikely that the impact on convenience stores would result in a significant number of closures as this sector accounts for only a small proportion of occupied units within the town centre.”

The report hailed the Lidl design as “acceptable” and used the same word to describe the impact of the proposed development on road safety.

But committee members agreed to press the local highway authority, Hampshire council, to install a signal-controlled pedestrian crossing in Christchurch Road.

They also approved a separate application by G P Commercial Investments to construct buildings for industrial, storage and business use on another part of the former site.

Members heard that no objections to the scheme had been heard from people living in nearby New Street.