PLANS by a cut-price supermarket to build a distribution centre in Neston could face a setback.

Last year the borough council gave Aldi permission to use the former Marconi site as a distribution centre for its stores in Merseyside and the North West.

But residents have campaigned to have the decision reversed after learning lorries would travel through Thornton Hough or Barn-ston to get to and from the depot.

The issue is being reconsidered by the council's planning committee this week, and head of planning Tom Miller said: 'It was agreed the vast majority of traffic from the distribution centre (70%) would travel south using Chester High Road. The remainder would use designated B roads.'

According to a council report, Aldi is reluctant to use alternative routes as it would increase fuel costs.

The planned 40,500sq m warehouse and regional office complex could mean up to 350 HGVs on the roads each day. Wirral councillors fear about 100 of those could pass through the villages.

A Wirral Council spokeswoman said: 'We have contacted Aldi to urge them to reconsider routing its HGV traffic from the A540 southwards toward Two Mills.

'We've also contacted the borough council to urge them to revoke the original planning decision.'

Matthew Barnes, managing director of Aldi, said the original planning process included a detailed transport-impact assessment.

He added: 'At no time did the borough council object to the application because of the potential effect of traffic on residents living in the Barnston Road area.'