WEST FIFERS have “overwhelmingly” backed a bid to bring a Lidl supermarket and a Marks and Spencer Foodhall to Dunfermline. 

That’s according to the firm behind the revised plans which would bring more than 200 jobs to Halbeath Retail Park and include non-food shops. 

Owners of the park, Royal London Mutual Insurance Society, have already had one application refused by Fife Council. 

But they returned with fresh proposals and held a public consultation in April with “over 90 per cent of attendees” in favour of Lidl and M&S moving in. 

They submitted a new planning application to the council last week and spokesman Michael Lawrence said: “We are delighted by the overwhelmingly positive response from the community to the latest plans. 

“It is clear that there is an appreciation of the real benefits that Dunfermline will gain from having a new Lidl store and a Marks and Spencer Foodhall to complement the existing offer in the town centre.”

The park is managed by Royal London Asset Management (RLAM) and, in addition to Lidl, M&S and the non-food units, the plans include a reconfiguration of the car park with 303 new spaces, traffic safety measures and a new pedestrian crossing on Halbeath Road. 

The extension would be at the east end of the retail park with a new access road from the roundabout on Kingseat Road. 

In January, the council’s west planning committee voted against the proposed development of nine new outlets, which included Lidl but not M&S.

Opponents argued it would “kill the High Street” and Dunfermline Delivers, which represents 450 town-centre firms, were against the plan.

Council officers said there weren’t enough parking spaces and the plan would create “a risk to pedestrian and road safety”.

There were also concerns about a flood risk, traffic problems and the impact on traders in Dunfermline town centre.

Mr Lawrence said: “This revised application very much addresses the issues raised by officers in their report to committee in January and the subsequent comments made by council members during their consideration of this planning application.

“RLAM is keen to provide an enhanced retail offer, transport improvements and better facilities at Halbeath Retail Park that will ensure Dunfermline is able to offer customers a better shopping experience and keep more spend in the town.

“We hope that the local community and key stakeholders will make their supportive views known on this planning application during its consideration by Fife Council.”

Chris Scott, from Lidl, added: “Lidl is fully committed to bringing a new store to Halbeath Retail Park. 

“We anticipate that this proposal will be warmly welcomed by our existing customers and look forward to receiving feedback on this.”