Plans to demolish a pub in Congresbury and build a supermarket would destroy the heart of the village, say residents.

Developer Land and Buildings Ltd has submitted a planning application for the site of the former Bell Inn, more recently known as Cromwells, at Kent Road.

The scheme would see the pub flattened and replaced with a 4,499 sq ft supermarket with associated parking for 16 cars.

It would also include a pedestrian link from Kent Road to the site.

The plans will be discussed by councillors on Monday at the Old School Rooms in Jubilee Hall, at 7.30pm.

One of the directors, Richard Farrow, of Land and Buildings, has been invited to attend the meeting but has not yet confirmed his attendance.

Residents in the village are not happy with the proposals and have formed a petition, which has already attracted hundreds of signatures.

The petition was set up by local woman Rebecca Penfold, 23, who has lived in the village all her life.

She said: "My family has had strong links with The Bell for many, many years.

"It has always been a central part of the village and any development of the site should benefit Congresbury, not destroy it.

"I am concerned any supermarket there would take away business from the local shops and in turn destroy the heart of the village."

No details have yet been made public about who may run the store, but names such as Co-op, Tesco Express and Budgens have been mooted.

Traders say the appearance of a big-name convenience store in the small village could sound the death knell for small, independent businesses.

Mathan Param, 32, who runs the Morgan's Local Shop at Station Road has already collected more than 300 names on the petition.

Mr Param, who has run the shop with his business partner for the past four years, said: "In the village we have two small supermarkets, a butchers, bakers, newsagents and a post office.

"We are worried that these stores, plus others, will be affected if a large convenience store is allowed to open.

"It is often the case that when a big store moves into a village it takes business from the smaller traders who cannot compete. Whoever takes it over would stock many of the items offered by the local independent traders in Congresbury.

"It could eventually mean there would be no shops left in the village."

Rob Hodder, who owns Hodder's Butchers in the precinct, shares these concerns.

Mr Hodder, 45, said: "We have been trading in the village for 36 years and I would oppose any application for a supermarket on the Bell Inn site.

"I am concerned a supermarket of that size could potentially force some of the village shops to close."

The pub, which in its heyday was one of the village's central meeting points, closed two years ago and has laid vacant ever since.

John Sneddon, planning consultant for Tetlow-King, which is drawing up the plans for Land and Buildings Ltd, said: "My client has spoken to retailers regarding the convenience store and a number have expressed an interest in it.

"No operator has been agreed to run the convenience store, should it get the go ahead."