Plans for a new Lidl near the M25 have been submitted.

The budget supermarket previously said it would submit an application this autumn after exchanging contracts for the World of Water site in Watford Road earlier this year.

After the initial report, some branded its Hunton Bridge location a “ridiculous idea” due to traffic fears, with some branding it an “accident waiting to happen”.

Now an updated proposal shows that the existing A41 / Watford Road junction would be realigned with marked left / right lanes on the carriageway.

According to an access capacity assessment, this change should be “beneficial” and the percentage increases of vehicles in the area would be “minimal”.

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A transport assessment concluded that no further modelling of the external highway network should be required beyond the proposed access junction.

In response, councillor Sara Bedford said: “I think a lot of local residents will be pleased to have a budget supermarket on their doorsteps, especially in these difficult times.

“However I can see a number of highways issues with the access that close to the Hunton Bridge roundabout and the motorway junction, together with the number of right hand turns across fast-moving traffic.

“I will be very interested to see what Hertfordshire County Council's highways engineers have to say about the plans."

The store would take up 1,457 sq metres of commercial space, with a 98-space car park for customers and employees.

It would take up 17 per cent more squared metres than the existing building, which is currently used for supplying aquatic and garden products.

A stock image of a Lidl store. Credit: PA

The design and access statement claims the scheme will help improve the site kept in “poor, unkept conditions”, and will introduce a modern structure with improved parking and additional local employment.

Elsewhere, the Lidl will be opening its South Oxhey shop in November and is still exploring the possibility of opening a store in Rickmansworth.

To see the plans, visit the Three Rivers District Council planning portal at http://www3.threerivers.gov.uk/onlineapplications/ searching planning application number: 22/1764/FUL

Comments can be submitted online, by email to enquiries@threerivers.gov.uk or by letter no later than November 4.

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