THE prospect of an Aldi supermarket coming to Bradford on Avon appears to have already bitterly divided the town.

The company has yet to submit a planning application for a 20,000 square foot store with 100 parking spaces but already the battle lines are being drawn.

Our story last week outlining the company's plans - and including a comment from Bradford on Avon's mayor Cllr Sarah Gibson saying she had contacted the company to find out more - sparked a war of words on local social media.

Cllr Gibson says the town could do with another supermarket on the northern side off the A363 Bath Road. She said: "I have put in a call to Aldi to see what their thoughts are.

"From our point of view as a town council, I would welcome conversations on possible sites in the north of the town as that area has no large supermarket. Sites with good access to the main road would be ideal."

But a response from Ally Fox on a local social media site gave rise to 347 comments - and appeared to show a bitter divide between residents living in the north and south of the town.

Mrs Fox said: "I understand the Mayor has asked Aldi if it wants to build a supermarket on the north side of town.

"As a resident and ratepayer of the north side, I do not recall being asked if we want one plonked on our side of town, any more than the south ward she represents appear to want one.

"Anyone that desperate to live close to an Aldi will find they can do so in a home costing around 50 per cent less in Melksham or Trowbridge."

The reaction from other residents was immediate - and furious - with some showing their enthusiasm for an Aldi discount store and others less enthusiastic about the prospect.

Some were all for another supermarket, while others thought the town's smaller, independent shops should be supported.

Aldi says the site should be around 1.5 acres and ideally needs to be on a prominent main road and with good visibility and access but there are few suitable sites available, except possibly on land off the A363 Bath Road.

Some residents argued an Aldi would increase traffic from the south, while others thought it might reduce the frequency of trips from the north to the Sainsbury's store in the south.

For now, Aldi has yet to confirm whether it plans to submit an application. In the meantime, the debate rumbles on about whether the town actually needs or wants an Aldi store.