ABOUT 40 new jobs are to be created in Witney next year as the town gets its first discount supermarket.

It is also good news for local residents who supported the application by Lidl to open a store next to the McDonald’s drive-in restaurant, in Ducklington Lane.

The German-based company, which has close on 500 stores throughout Europe, has now received consent from West Oxfordshire District Council’s lowlands planning sub-committee.

The same councillors voted six weeks before to allow another discount store operator, Aldi, to set up shop in the area’s other major town, at Alvescot Road, Carterton.

Lidl had to revise its plans after an earlier scheme was rejected. The new one has a building in natural stone and slate tile roof, and the company has to contribute funds towards a realignment of the road junction in Ducklington Lane.

Lidl’s national spokesman, Kieran Adair, said: “We are definitely looking to open in 2009.

“We viewed Witney as a key place to have a new store, and we are glad we have got the go-ahead.

“In the run-up to the planning process, we held two open days in the town, and each attracted about 400 visitors, so there was obviously a lot of interest and support.”

The Aldi store is also expected to open next year, and has said it will be creating local jobs.

Lidl plans to recruit locally and train new staff at its nearest store, in Watlington Road, Oxford, before the Witney store opens.

Mr Adair added: “We are looking at about 40 employment opportunities, which can only be good for the local economy, as well as providing customers with good quality produces at a cheaper price.”

Witney’s continued expansion is also expected to create yet more new jobs in 2009, as the Marriotts Close redevelopment comes to completion in the autumn. Already booked as tenants in the new shopping centre are Debenhams and Marks and Spencer, and a range of smaller outlets.