HUNDREDS of new jobs will be created after plans for a new supermarket warehouse were approved this week.

We first revealed that Sedgemoor District Council planners had given Morrisons the go-ahead to build a 375,000sq ft food preparation and storage warehouse off Bristol Road.

Last week The Mercury previewed the proposals, which were deferred in February to see if neighbours' concerns about the scheme could be resolved.

Bridgwater MP Ian Liddell-Grainger said it was vital workers from the Somerfield depot at Huntworth, which is due to close in August, are given priority when new staff are taken on.

He said: “I'm not surprised it's been approved but I would like to think Morrisons would go to Somerfield workers and take them on and give jobs to local people and liaise with Bridgwater College to have a good training programme.

“We need to see Morrisons become part of the community.”

Steve Leahy, Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce chairman, described the arrival of the new Morrisons warehouse as “brilliant”.

Morrisons says an “acoustic fence” will be built to protect neighbours from the noise of lorries on site.

The development involves demolishing some existing buildings to make way for two gatehouses, a weighbridge gantry and canopy, an LPG store, and a 323-space car park.

AN agreement has been drawn up to make sure local people benefit from the 1,000 jobs being created by Morrisons' new regional distribution centre in Bridgwater.

Sedgemoor District Council says the agreement will also help people gain skills for employment in the industry.

THE new Morrisons regional distribution centre (pictured) being built in Bridgwater IS considered a local eyesore, a Mercury phone poll suggests.

We asked readers last week what they thought of the new facility off Bristol Road, with its eye-catching green cladding, and 75% said they thought it was an eyesore, with 25% disagreeing.