New Aldi store 'will kill Whitchurch high street' - claim

Resident Vic Woodhouse, of Rosemary Lane, said he doesn't know of anyone who wants to see Aldi build a store on a site off Wrexham Road.

It comes despite the firm saying its plans have been "broadly welcomed" by the local community following a public exhibition where they went on display.

The firm said the store could create up to 40 permanent full and part-time jobs for local people, in addition to roles during construction and supply-chain opportunities.

But Mr Woodhouse said: "I am yet to meet anyone who wants it, particularly in that place.

"Most don't want it to go on an out-of-town site as it will kill the high street.

"They say it will create 40 jobs, but 40 jobs will probably be lost from businesses closing in the high street.

"It will be on a bypass where there is already a Starbucks and McDonald's.

"People will park at Aldi and run across the road to grab a burger and coffee, and probably getting run over in the process. There are better pieces of land."

Mr Woodhouse, who has lived in the town for 13 years, added: "It is a lovely little town. I understand why Aldi want to do it and don't blame them. People from the outlying villages will be able to drive to the store and there will be no need to come to the town centre. But we don't want it. We need to keep the high street alive."

Aldi 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.

As part of the application, Aldi is also proposing to introduce traffic management measures and new parking arrangements on Wrexham Road, which are being introduced to improve the current road situation.

A statement on behalf of Aldi said: "Our plans for a new Aldi food store on Wrexham Road have been broadly welcomed by local community and we are very happy with the levels of support we have received."

"As a next step, we will now review our proposal based on the feedback provided by local residents, and liaise with councillors and council officers with a view to making appropriate amendments to our plans where possible."