Developers are to meet councillors in Mirfield amid new speculation over a proposed supermarket site.
Planning agents are to meet Mirfield Town Council next week over land in Station Road.
The Examiner revealed in April that developers St James Securities had withdrawn a planning application for a new 30,000 sq ft supermarket on the former Veolia Water site.
The developers had targeted the “big four” supermarket groups and Asda was in poll position.
Kirklees Council had not made a decision before the developers withdrew the plans.
Now, it has emerged, the developers are looking at scaled down plans for a discount supermarket.
Sources say that Lidl, which has a store across the road, is considering a move for a larger, purpose-built supermarket.
No one from Mirfield Town Council would confirm rumours that Lidl was interested in the site but a meeting is planned for next Tuesday.
It is not known if the meeting will be held in public or behind closed doors.
The Veolia site, close to Mirfield Railway Station, has been vacant since September 2012 and buildings are boarded up.
Traders in Mirfield town centre were split over Asda but fear discounter Lidl could hit profits.
Greengrocer Andrew White, a former town councillor who runs Mick’s Fruit and Veg in Huddersfield Road, said Lidl’s interest was an open secret in town.
He added: “Lidl is crippling business in the town already. It’s a really busy store and a lot of my customers are going there.
“I think it will be bad news for many small traders.”
Mr White said he understood Lidl wanted more storage and warehousing and not necessarily to increase retail space.
“Lidl only sells a limited range of goods but that’s the secret of their success,” he said. “They are good at what they do and they are taking customers off the big supermarkets as well.”
In a statement Lidl said: “As part of our ongoing expansion programme we are always looking at ways in which to improve our existing stores, however there are no plans at present to make any changes to our Mirfield store.”
