New Whitchurch Aldi site is ‘unsuitable’ says council

Despite backing plans for a new Aldi supermarket in Whitchurch in principle, members of the town council say they cannot support the scheme because of concerns about the site being off the busy Wrexham Road.

The proposed store, which would create up to 40 jobs, was discussed at the latest meeting of the council's planning committee.

A statement on behalf of the council said: "Whilst Whitchurch Town Council would welcome an Aldi store in Whitchurch, we believe that the proposed site is unsuitable.

"The proposed entrance and exit from the site is close by a roundabout that is on a very busy road that has had a high number of RTCs.

"The site does not comply with the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework as it is not on a road that is well connected to the town centre and that already has traffic problems.

"It will have a highly detrimental effect on the town centre and existing traders as, being adjacent to the by-pass, it will attract customers from outlying villages who will not need to go into the town.

"It does not pass the sequential test set out in the as there are other sites available within the development boundary including brownfield sites."

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.