Work on a new £4 million supermarket which will create more than 40 jobs in Willenhall is finally due to start within the next month, it has been revealed today.

Bosses at Lidl are set to start construction of a 17,000 sq ft store inside the next few weeks after a long running battle to receive the final go-ahead from Walsall Council. Planning permission for the ambitious scheme in New Road was granted last September and it was originally hoped building work would start in time for it to open around July. But discussions over final details of the plans between the council and company have led to a number of delays.

This has even prompted some fears it may not be ready until Christmas.

However, Colin Rimmer, development executive at Lidl, said preparation work on the site formerly used by Samuel Parkes Lockmakers has started and construction is set to start.

Although the company has been forced to change its deadlines, bosses anticipate the store will be ready to open in October and recruitment will start shortly.

Mr Rimmer said: “By the end of this month construction should be under way and we have already started some clearance work ahead of this.

“It has been a long time time and a long process but we are very confident that everything is in place and have made firm plans to start in June.

“It has taken longer than we anticipated but we were committed to Willenhall from the start and believe the store really will benefit the town.

“We will look to start recruitment in the Summer as we try to get staff in place a month or two before we open any of our supermarkets.” Walsall Council has insisted it is an important development for Willenhall and the process of allowing work to start has taken time because legal documents needed to be carefully drafted.

By Craig Hughes