Supermarket chain Asda has said it plans to open at least 15 stores around the country this year -- and looks likely to announce new plans for a Witney branch soon.

Asda, which is owned by giant American company Wal-Mart, said it hopes to make an announcement about a Witney outlet this spring.

Plans for a Witney store have been in the pipeline since July 2002, but stalled after first an edge of town site at Downs Road, then a town centre site at Marriotts Close, were ruled out.

Now the focus has returned to Downs Road.

Asda has previously targeted the site of the stadium at Downs Road, owned by the neighbouring Witney Lakes resort and used by Witney United Football Club.

If the site is sold, the football club is expected to benefit from a new stadium, which could become its home.

Sam Donaldson from Asda said: "Our development team is in place and we would very much like to have a new store in Witney.

"At the moment there's still quite a lot to put together in terms of our plans, but we hope to be able to make an announcement this spring."

She said she could not discuss which sites the company is looking at.

Andrew Tucker, development director at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: "There has been no recent contact, but we're aware of a long-standing interest in trying to develop a site in Witney.

"At one time they did submit a plan for Marriotts, although that wasn't something the district council invited, and ultimately that was withdrawn when the council decided it was not going to make the site available for a single food store development.

"Asda have subsequently been considering their options, and certainly the one specific site I'm aware of them being interested in is Downs Road. It wouldn't be a big surprise if a planning application arrived.

"We would look at in context of local and national policies towards out-of-town retailing. They would have to demonstrate there's not an alternative site either within or closer to the town centre and they would have to demonstrate it won't harm the vitality of the town centre."

Tell us what you think.