LIDL'S plans for its first ever supermarket in Purbeck will be decided by Dorset councillors next month.

The German supermarket first submitted its plans for a store in September 2022 and it was followed by a lengthy consultation period.

Planners at Dorset Council have been processing and consulting on the application and will soon publish a recommendation on the proposals.

This recommendation and the application will then be put to Dorset Council councillors at a committee meeting on November 6, where a result will be reached.

Sandford Road, SandfordSandford Road, Sandford (Image: Daily Echo)

Hundreds of people in Purbeck have been divided on the proposals. Those against warn it will create more traffic, pollution, noise and would be a loss of green space.

Meanwhile those in favour have said Purbeck could do with a budget supermarket, as the closest one is in Poole.

Lidl estimates its proposed store would save residents 1.5 million miles per year in fuel costs and more than 400 tonnes of CO2.

Meanwhile Lidl GB’s head of property James Mitchell said there has been an “incredible amount” of positive feedback from 3,200 people, he claimed.

Wareham St Martin Parish Council has warned a new supermarket “will impact [the village] and the surrounding area for years to come”.