Lidl threat to pull out of Whitchurch if Aldi is built
A supermarket said it could be forced to close if a rival store is built on the outskirts of Whitchurch.
Lidl, which has a store in Whitchurch town centre, said it could “cease trading” if Aldi is allowed to build a new supermarket off Wrexham Road.
It has also warned Shropshire Council it could take legal action if it approves the application.
Aldi said it expects business in the town centre to remain strong if it gets planning permission to build the new store.
But in a statement Lidl said it was concerned about the loss of trade it wold suffer at the hands of its rival.
It said: “We write to express significant concern with the assessment of impact of the proposed out-of-town Aldi store upon Whitchurch town centre and, in particular, the existing in-centre Lidl store, which is more than likely to cease trading if the Aldi application is approved.
“If assessed in a more robust and realistic manner, the impact of the Aldi store on the Lidl store and the town centre as a whole can only increase. We maintain that the impact of the proposal upon Whitchurch town centre will be so significant that it is likely to result in the closure of the Lidl store.
“Lidl cannot permit the council to put the future of the Whitchurch store at such significant risk. Accordingly, should the council seek to grant planning consent, Lidl will commence legal proceedings to challenge the decision.”
“In order to avoid legal proceedings, the council must come to a decision having regard to all available evidence on the performance of the Lidl store and following a transparent and robust assessment of retail impact.
“Accordingly, we strongly recommend that the council appoints an independent retail expert to provide a detailed critique of the retail case presented by Aldi to ensure that this key matter is thoroughly considered in the correct manner.”
Whitchurch Town Council has called on Aldi to subsidise a new bus stop if it is allowed to build a new store.
It also doesn’t want there to be any advertising boards on the rear of the proposed new supermarket.
Aldi said the new store would create up to 40 permanent full and part-time jobs in addition to roles during construction and supply-chain opportunities created by the shop being built. Shropshire Council is expected to make a decision on the proposal in the coming months.
