WE can't wait!

The people of Southampton have given a huge thumbs-up to the plans for an Ikea store in the city, some saying its arrival in the south is long overdue.

As exclusively revealed in the Daily Echo last Friday, the Swedish furniture giant's proposals to bring one of its popular stores to Southampton are back on track.

It is Ikea's third attempt to set up in Southampton. The new superstore would bring 500 jobs to the city and its modern but cheap designer furniture would be expected to attract shoppers from miles around.

Exhibition As the company gears up to lodging a planning application to build a store on the former Pirelli cable works site in West Quay Road, the proposals are being presented to the public in an exhibition.

Ikea has set up the three-day exhibition next to the Bargate and it opened to an intrigued public yesterday.

Within the first four hours, nearly 400 people had visited the exhibition to view the plans, ask questions, pick up an Ikea catalogue and complete a comment card. Steve Eyton, transport consultant for Ikea, was explaining the plans to visitors. He said: "It's been very busy so far - we have had 390 people through the door in the first few hours, and we imagine Saturday will be even busier.

"Most people seem to think it's a very good idea and have been very supportive of bringing Ikea to Southampton. So many people have been saying they have wanted an Ikea for years and have been travelling to Bristol or Croydon to get to one.

"A few people have raised questions about traffic and parking and the design, so we have been trying to explain the thought process behind it and let them know that we are working very closely with Southampton City Council."

The exhibition runs from 10am to 4pm until Saturday. To make a comment, visit www. ikea.co.uk/southampton.