PLANS for an Aldi supermarket in Cottingham look set to spark controversy after claims the village is under siege from developers.
Budget supermarket chain Aldi wants to develop a store in a residential area of the village, at the site of an empty house in Newgate Street.
Last year, more than 1,500 people signed petitions objecting to plans for a supermarket development in the village's Station Road.
East Riding Council gave the go-ahead in November for a £20m supermarket in Station Road for an unnamed operator.
Now, concerned residents look set to oppose the latest scheme, for Aldi, at the site of Cottingham House in Newgate Street.
Ward councillor Lena Slater said: "Cottingham is under siege at the moment.
"It is a unique village and people feel all this is coming a bit fast and furious.
"You can't blame people for reacting when it seems so many things are happening.
"There's an awful lot going on and people are wondering what is going to happen next."
Aldi has not yet submitted a planning application but ward councillors are being invited to talks.
Cllr Slater said: "Cottingham House has been standing empty for 15 to 20 years.
"The site, which is surrounded by trees, has been up for sale for a number of years.
"I think as far people in the vicinity are concerned it's a residential area so this proposal will be extremely unpopular."
Nearby resident John Leak, of Longmans Lane, said people living in the area are "reeling" after finding out about the plans.
Mr Leak, 60, said: "My house would back onto the proposed site.
"We are just reeling from it. We find it quite incredulous that a supermarket would even be thought about for this site.
"We attended a meeting about long-term development sites in Cottingham and we were told categorically by the council this would not be used for retail."
Mr Leak insisted the site is the wrong location for a supermarket.
He said: "There are road safety and congestion issues. Newgate Street, at certain times of the day, in the morning, lunchtime and evening, is very, very congested, particularly when the level crossing barrier is down.
"There would also be noise pollution from delivery lories unloading, car doors slamming and trollies being clanked about."
East Riding Council confirmed land at the site is earmarked for residential development in the authority's draft Local Plan to guide future development.
