Concerns have been raised over the impact on neighbours and local businesses of a new Pets at Home store opening in Ludlow, Shropshire.

The newly-built Pets at Home store on the town’s Foldgate Lane is expected to open at the end of the month, and store bosses say it will bring a boost to the local economy.

But not everyone is happy about the new store, which will employ 10 people from the Ludlow area.

Vivienne Parry, Shropshire councillor for Ludlow south, said she had received a rash of complaints about floodlights that had been put up around the store in the run up to the opening on October 31.

She said: “They have floodlights outside that shine in the windows of the old people’s home (Hagley Place) on Foldgate Lane, and the bungalows and houses down there.

“They leave them on all night as part of the security on the site.

“The old people’s home is lit up like a Belisha beacon and it’s not very good for the residents there.

“I’ve had a lot of complaints that it is affecting people’s sleep, and I’d like them to do something about it.”

She said she was also concerned about the impact on businesses in the town.

“I don’t see why we need it, we already have a good pet shop in the town and we also have pet food sold in the market,” she said.

A staff member at CWA Pet Supplies on Upper Galdeford, Ludlow said they were not happy about the new store either, but were powerless to stop the national chain moving in.

However, Pets at Home bosses say the new 6,000 square foot premises on Foldgate Lane will be good for the local economy, especially as it had recruited staff from the area surrounding the town.

Area manager, Adam Wilcock, said: “There was a strong demand from Ludlow pet owners for Pets at Home to come to town, and we’re very pleased to have been able to grant them their wish.”

Plans for the store were approved this time last year, after original proposals for an accompanying fast food restaurant and takeaway at the site were dropped and developers agreed to overhaul traffic access on the road.

The shop will sell dedicated pet products, catering for dogs, cats, small animals, reptiles, birds and fish as well as wildlife.

However, there will not be a veterinarian in-store to help customers and their animals as there is in some of larger Pets at Home branches elsewhere.