A NEW shop has opened in Portishead, creating 30 new jobs.

99p Stores has moved into the former Dreams shop in the Wyndham Way Retail Park, despite objections from the town council.

Local councillors asked for permission for a variation of the planning condition to allow the unit to sell food and drink to be refused, on the grounds it could take more trade away from the High Street.

North Somerset Council however, decided to override the town council’s views because only 20 per cent of the sales floor is to be used for this purpose and it was not thought the store would be detrimental to the High Street.

Portishead is the latest branch of the rapidly expanding UK discount store to open. The company was founded in 2001 and now has 237 outlets in the UK and Ireland.

Co-founder and co-owner Hussein Lalani said: “We are delighted to be opening in Portishead and were encouraged to do so by an internet campaign.

“The public has become rightly transfixed on value and we are delighted to oblige.”