Whitchurch Aldi plan a ‘catastrophe’ - says Lidl
A new out-of-town Aldi supermarket would have a "catastrophic" impact on rival Lidl's Whitchurch store and could lead to its closure, say bosses.
Bosses behind the Lidl store in Whitchurch town centre said a new Aldi supermarket off Wrexham Road could put them out of business.
The proposed store, which would create up to 40 jobs, has already received objections from local residents, councillors and the Canal and River Trust
Chris Smith, writing on behalf of Lidl, said the new store would have a negative impact on trade in Whitchurch town centre.
He said: "The proposed Aldi store is forecast to have a -37 per cent impact on the town centre Lidl store.
"This magnitude of impact can only be classified as being significantly adverse and therefore unacceptable.
“However given the concerns, it is contended that even this significant impact is under-estimated.
“If that impact upon the Lidl store is based upon the Lidl store’s benchmark turnover, then it is evident that the introduction of the new Aldi store would have a catastrophic impact on the town centre Lidl store.
“Quite simply the introduction of the new Aldi store has very clear potential to bring about the closure of the town centre Lidl store.
"The applicant has failed to justify the principle of delivering a new retail development within the countryside.
"Further, there is at least one sequentially preferable site and the proposal will have an unacceptable, signification adverse impact on Whitchurch town centre."
Despite backing plans for an Aldi supermarket in Whitchurch in principle, members of the town council have also said they cannot support the scheme because of concerns about the site being off the busy Wrexham Road.
Plans submitted to Shropshire Council state traffic management measures and new parking arrangements in Wrexham Road will be introduced to improve the current road situation.
These include creating a right-turn lane into the site from Wrexham Road, two vehicle-activated speeding signs, and an extension to the 30mph zone on the road outside the supermarket.
The firm said the shop could create up to 40 permanent full and part-time jobs for local people, in addition to roles during construction and supply-chain opportunities created by the shop being built.
Aldi also said the building had been designed to respect the appearance of the surrounding area and it would feature a mono pitch roof with a two-storey frontage, reducing to a single storey at the rear of the building.
Aldi has revealed 76 per cent of people have so far welcomed the proposal. It follows a public exhibition where the firm invited more than 4,600 local residents and businesses to attend to view the plans.
