Plans for a Lidl supermarket in Cockermouth look set to be approved next week, with the creation of up to 40 jobs.

Allerdale council's development panel is due to vote on the plans on Tuesday.

Officers have recommended that councillors grant planning permission.

The company wants to demolish Fairfield Garage, Travis Perkins and WCF Pet and Equestrian.

It wants to build a replacement WCF shop alongside the planned 19,127sq ft Lidl store, which would be open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

Traffic access to the proposed development would be taken from Station Road, with a fourth exist added to the existing mini roundabout.

Delivery access will be from New Road to the north east of the site.

There would be parking for 90 cars.

The original plans included a new pedestrian zebra crossing across Station Road.

This has been removed at the request of highways officers, who felt it would have a detrimental to traffic flow.

Instead they have asked that the developer should pay £41,500 towards pedestrian improvements elsewhere.

Two letters of representation have been submitted on behalf of Sainsbury's, which is on the other side of the road.

They state that the proposed development would lead to congestion at the mini roundabout on Station Road and place additional pressure on car parking in the area as a result of providing an inadequate volume of free parking. 

They are concerned that the proposed access junction could impact on the safe and efficient flow of traffic.

Residents have sent four letters to the council, raising concerns about issues including traffic, noise and the design of the building.

Following concerns, the proposed opening hours and times for deliveries were reduced.

Planning officers have concluded that the scale of the proposal would not seriously affect the vitality and viability of Cockermouth town centre. 

In a report, they said: "It would improve the range and choice of retail offer within the town and assist in alleviating the current deficiency of Lidl stores within this area of the country.

"The merits of the development, the size and scale, and impact on the town centre and other stores and comparative sequential comparison with other sites has been evaluated within the submitted evidence. 

"The scale, layout, massing and design of the development are considered to be acceptable and sympathetic with the location adjacent to Cockermouth Conservation Area.

"The proposal is considered to be an important retail investment to the town and its local economy without any substantial harm to the site or surroundings of its local environment. Therefore, the proposal is recommended for approval."

Lidl revealed its plans for a Cockermouth store in October and held a public drop-in event.

Some residents questioned the need for another supermarket in the town, as well as raising concerns about parking.

Cockermouth currently has a Sainsbury's supermarket opposite the planned Lidl site, Aldi on Low Road and Co-op on Station Street.