REDDITCH town centre could lose out on shoppers if a competing retail area is allowed to expand, according to councillors.

At a planning and transportation committee meeting last week, councillors discussed Dudley Council's plan to allocate additional retail space at Merry Hill Shopping Centre.

Dudley's Unitary Development Plan proposes to delegate Brierley Hill as a "sub-regional town centre" linking three areas - High Street, Waterfront and Merry Hill.

The shopping centre would then require an extra 410,000 sq ft of floorspace for additional retail uses.

But a Redditch Council report stated Merry Hill was a competing retail centre to Redditch town centre.

A survey of shoppers in the town revealed Merry Hill was used by about 41 per cent of people on a monthly or quarterly basis.

Because of these shopping trends, the council believes the UDP proposal would have a damaging affect on Redditch town centre's vitality and viability.

It also believes it may affect the council's vision for the town centre.

Councillor Clive Cheetham, chairman of the planning and transportation committee, said: "We agreed entirely with the report and we will not be supporting Dudley Council's bid to expand Merry Hill Shopping Centre.

"And we are not the only town or city which has voiced objections.

"Worcester City Council, for one, will not be supporting the bid.

"This will affect Redditch. The bigger this centre gets, the more it will be at the cost of smaller shopping centres."

Detailed work is to be carried out before Friday, August 11, to assess the potential impact on the town centre as part of the preparation of the council's case at Dudley's UDP inquiry.