Residents in the Weald can rest easy - the recent job cuts announced by Sainsbury's will not affect the new store which is being built in Staplehurst.

On Wednesday last, the supermarket giant announced it would shed around 3,500 jobs across the country after posting a pre-tax loss of £137m in the past year.

The company, which also owns Argos, said that in addition 120 Argos stores would close.

But when asked about Staplehurst, the company confirmed: "Our new strategy and the interims results do not impact our planned supermarket for the Staplehurst community.

"We remain committed to opening our doors to customers in the spring next year.

"We’re investing millions into our supermarket that will include an Argos store inside, and we’re supporting jobs during construction and beyond."

The spokesman said the supermarket should create 100 jobs locally when it opened.

'We remain committed to opening our doors to customers in the spring next year...'

The statement will come as an enormous relief to villagers who have been waiting for the store ever since Sainsbury's first put in in a planning application in 2011.

The chairman of the parish council, Paddy Riordan, said: "Sainsbury's have told us they are going to start recruiting in the New Year.

"Everyone is very excited, not only at the prospect of the new store, but also of the new jobs."

Construction finally got under way only in mid-August when Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant and Staplehurst Borough Councillor Louise Brice were invited to turn the first sods, but since then, big strides have been made.

Cllr Riordan said: "They are really flying ahead and making great progress."

The frame of the building is now rising above the top of the protective hoardings that surround the site.

Work is also currently under way in Station Road, alongside the site of te new store, to re-lay gas and water mains so that a mini-roundabout can be constructed at the crossroads of Station Road with Station Approach and Market Street, ready for when the store opens.

Cllr Riordan praised Sainsbury's for their openness. He said: "They really are keeping us well informed now and listening if we have any points to raise on behalf of our residents."

Once open, the 18,000 sq ft store will provide both food, home-ware and stationary products and there will be hot food and pizza counters, an in-store bakery, and the Argos concession.

The store will have 161 parking spaces.

The site was formerly occupied by diamond tool manufacturer DK Holdings, which has moved to a new building next door.

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