A new retail development on the outskirts of Cockermouth would be the death knell for the town centre, according to one resident at a public exhibition of the proposed plans.

Property developer Opus North is planning to build two new retail units behind the Lakes Home Centre on Low Road. They are expected to create about 50 jobs. 

The company staged a public exhibition on Tuesday at St Joseph's Parish Hall and asked people to share their views on what shops are needed in the town.

A steady stream of people were keen to have their say.

A spokesman for Opus North said: "We were pleased that, despite the rain, around 100 people attended our consultation event to view our initial ideas.

"The purpose of the consultation was to find out what kind of additional retail local people would like to see more of in Cockermouth and the feedback we received will help us to shape the plans before we submit an outline planning application.

"It's still early days and we’ll keep in touch with the local community as our plans progress."

John Rimmer, of Parklands, Cockermouth, said: "These sort of developments are the death knell for a town centre.

"It would be handy for us but I don't agree at all. We need to support the local shops, Cockermouth is unique. 

"If you walk down Main Street you can see all the businesses need huge support."

Opus North hopes to submit a planning application to Allerdale council in by the middle of next month. 

Neil Creeney, associate director, said: "We believe there is a demand in Cockermouth and want to see what people think the town needs. We want to provide a better choice of food and non-food retail."

If planning consent is given, the company will then have talks with various big brands, said Mr Creeney. He would not disclose any names. 

Opus is proposing two retail units, with food in the smaller one, which is about half the size of Sainsbury's. The bigger unit, which is about two thirds of the size of Sainsbury's, is expected to be for general trading, clothing and home.

There will be parking for 150 cars.

Diane Moyes, of Parkside Avenue, said: "I do not want any more development. I consider it out of town development. People are not going to walk there, anything that encourages them to go in their cars is bad.

"The centre of Cockermouth is wonderful and needs to be supported. The traders always say their biggest problem is the car parking situation, this will encourage people to drive out of town."

Andy Graham, of Crown Street, Cockermouth, said: "My main concern is how it would affect the shops in town. I would not like to see anything which is in direct competition to Main Street."

Helen Fletcher, of Low Road, Cockermouth, said: "It depends what's in there. As long as it's not detrimental to what we already have in town. Retailers are struggling to get back on their feet after the floods, any new developments have to be sensitive to their needs."

Jonty Chippendale, of The Toy Shop, would prefer to see some sort of business park.

He said: "With the new nuclear developments it would be good to see decent jobs being developed in town rather than retail units and low-paid jobs. The town is already pretty oversubscribed and more retails developments will lead to jobs going elsewhere.

"We are going through a bad patch as a result of the floods, anything which adds to that burden should be rejected."

Phil Campbell, civic trust chairman, said: "We have not discussed it as a group yet. Personally I do not want an out of town development. 

"We have a precious town centre which is quite vulnerable, we do not want to create direct competition, that's not good news."