A supermarket war is brewing after Tesco launched a bid to block a rival’s new store, claiming it could decimate town centre trade.

The food giant requested the council refuse permission for a new Lidl at Cowstead Corner, in Queenborough, Sheppey.

It comes 18 months since the company wanted fellow German budget outlet Aldi to be denied building their own store at nearby Neats Court Retail Park.

Plans for the Lidl were announced last autumn – eight years after suggesting a shop should be built on the Island.

If approved it would create up to 40 new jobs.

However, Tesco has objected to the shop being built as Lidl has “failed to provide a credible retail impact assessment of the proposal on the Tesco at Bridge Street and the town centre.”

The firm argued its supermarket in Sheerness, first opened in 1994, played “a strong anchor role” in the health of the town centre.

It says if it lost trade, smaller shops nearby would also be affected. It estimated spending in the town centre could fall by 25%.

It also argues the land was identified as being suitable for a hotel in Swale’s 2017 Local Plan, and that it would be detrimental to the Grade II-listed Neats Court – a former farmstead north west of the store.

National Highways raised separate concerns about a potential increase in traffic in the area.

The store is earmarked for a busy part of the Island near to the A249 and A2500 junction, which is notorious for delays.

One commenter said: “Traffic in this location is horrendous, and will only get worse the more houses are built.

“It boggles the mind to think they want to add to the problem by inserting a large supermarket when there are other areas that would be easier to get to and from.

“With Aldi coming in and Tesco up the road, why the need for another supermarket in this area anyway? Why not look to the rest of the Island where there's nothing?”

Permission is yet to be approved for the site, however councillors previously overturned officers' objections and approved the new Aldi store in December.

To keep up to date with the plans for the Lidl store, you can view them here.

Use the reference 22/504598/FULL.