A WINDFALL of £152,000 from budget supermarket Lidl should be spent on a new pedestrian crossing, town councillors have urged.

Plans for a new multi-million-pound Lidl in Ringwood, employing up to 40 people, were given the go-ahead last year, and the 2,432 sq metre store is scheduled to open on vacant industrial land in the town centre at the end of February.

As part of the deal the German firm is stumping up cash to pay for transport improvements, which is currently earmarked for several projects, including improving cycle lanes and signage and creating an 'uncontrolled' crossing in Christchurch Road outside the store.

However, at Ringwood Town Council planning meeting on Friday, members agreed to urge that the money all be spent on a better crossing in Christchurch Road.

Cllr Philip Day said: "There seems to already be an uncontrolled crossing at the Lidl roundabout.

"Can we change this and agree it should be used to pay for something directly attributable to your development, a decent crossing, a good old-fashioned zebra crossing with Belisha beacons?"

The cash must be used within two years.

Cllr Day said the committee had already earmarked some £50,000 in its budget to contribute towards a proper crossing in Christchurch Road, and should the Lidl money be used this could be released.

"What I have been hearing from residents is it should be on the south side," he said.

"There's quite a lot of traffic goes into the industrial estate on the western side."

Members voted to pass on their views to district and county councillors to bring up the matter with Lidl.

The supermarket was the subject of a petition last which garnered 5,693 signatures in favour of its opening in Ringwood.

However, it also aroused controversy after submitting plans for a 7.5m high totem sign, which would carry a 2.5m high Lidl logo.