A supermarket owner has expressed his concern over plans for a new food store on the same street.

CK Foodstores has asked for planning permission from the Carmarthenshire County Council to build a new convenience store near Tycroes Supermarket.

The proposal involves demolishing an existing hot food takeaway and adjacent structure at 6-8 Ammanford Road and replacing it with a ground floor shop with three retail units.

But Mandip Dale, the owner of Tycroes Supermarket is not happy with the proposed project and says it could threaten his business, which has been in operation for forty years.

Mr Dale said: “From a safety and planning kind of point it’s not ideal and from a personal point of view it's also not ideal. We have been here since 1984 and we could lose staff and business.

"It’s near a very busy junction with a sharp bend where three roads meet too.”

A number of Ammanford residents have expressed opposition to the development and sent letters to Carmarthenshire planning officers.

Julie Joseph said: “Allowing a supermarket and three retail units to be built here is a ridiculous idea. Even if the three retail units were taken off the plan, the effects of having a convenience store on this site will be a health and safety risk to many.

“Tycroes Road is already a congested road due to it leading onto Ammanford Road. The site is too close to the junction - houses in the immediate area have no off-road parking.

“Having more vehicles constantly entering and exiting the car park from or to Tycroes Road will increase the congestion.”

Meanwhile, Fiona Pugh-Evans, living near the proposed development stated: “This area has children walking to Tycroes primary school, secondary school pupils walking to very busy bus stops.

"One would be stopping opposite this new shop and would be an even more dangerous area for both pedestrians and traffic.

“There have been a few accidents on this junction already over the years. Appreciate that it would create additional jobs for locals, but it would also completely ruin a village shop that has been serving the community for decades.”

According to the full application form, the proposed CK Foodstore would not result in the loss of public open space and will create seven jobs for the local community.

The planning application remains under consultation until March 19, with a decision due on April 21.

CK Foodstores has been approached for comment.