Plans for a new supermarket in Coventry go before planners today – and look set to get the thumbs down.

The Aldi store chain wants to build a 1,252 sq metre store on the Radford Road taking in the current Texaco filling station site.

Coventry Council has already rejected plans but the firm has appealed and a local inquiry will look into the scheme next month.

The proposed store would trade until 6pm most days and until 8pm one night a week and would sell "a restricted range of mainly own label prepared groceries".

Organisations, business and individuals ranging from shops to the Radford Community Association and the 8^th St Nicholas Scout Group have objected on several grounds including traffic problems, access and the knock-one effect on other local businesses.

The council is concerned that national research has proved that similar projects have resulted in unemployment because competing businesses have been forced to close. It is worried that local centres at Barkers Butts Lane and Jubilee Crescent will be hit.