A SUPERMARKET giant is set to discover whether it can press ahead with controversial plans to expand the car park at one of its York stores.

Morrisons is looking to provide 21 extra bays at its Acomb branch, saying its current size means some customers struggle to find a space.

The chain said it could lose business to rivals if it did not deal with the issue, but a group of local residents have objected to the move over noise and traffic fears and the loss of seven fir trees in the area.

City of York Council planning councillors will make a decision on the scheme in Front Street next week and officers have recommended it for approval.

Customers who backed the extension say lack of space means they are often forced to go elsewhere.

Morrisons’ current car park is council-owned, but is run through an agreement between the authority, the firm and a neighbouring social club.

It has 264 spaces, and the extra room for drivers would be provided on land which backs onto adjacent houses.

The company’s plans also include an access road and extra lighting, trolley shelters and cycle storage, as well as widening the pedestrian area at the front of the store.

A report by the council’s development management officer, Heather Fairy, which will go before the meeting, said: “The car park is not only used by visitors to Morrisons, but also by visitors to Acomb and the adjacent social club.

“There are no charges to use the car park and vehicles are often parked for long periods of time, often for more than seven hours.

“It is apparent parking is getting increasingly difficult and provision of additional spaces would reduce pressure on the existing spaces.”

The report also said the move could benefit residents, as customers would be less likely to park in their streets, and any noise from the current site was “not consider to be intrusive”.

Last year, Morrisons customer Willem Hoedeman, who helped the University of York create a sustainable travel plan which allowed campus parking levels to be capped, criticised the extension proposals and claimed a petition by the firm’s staff asking for support was “dubious”.