Councillors object to new Lidl store in Louth
FAIRFIELD Industrial Estate is the wrong location for a new discount supermarket, Louth town councillors have ruled.
As reported, Lidl has applied to build a new store on the Louth Tractors site on Tattershall Way – with Louth Tractors to relocate to another area of the estate if the plans are approved.
-
An artist's impression of the store
Robert Beaumont of Lidl Food Stores UK told the council during the public forum that the store would be a total of 1,634 square metres with the sales area being 1,286 square metres.
There would be 83 car parking spaces as well as cycle bays and the store could create 30 jobs in the town from four hour contracts up to 50 hours.
However, town councillors have voted to object to the plans by seven votes to six, with some raising concerns that the location was not right.
Cllr Eileen Ballard said to Mr Beaumont: "I am not against your store coming to Louth at all. It is where it is going to be where you will find the biggest contention."
But, Cllr John MacDonald disagreed and said most of the industrial businesses on the estate have a retail element to them.
He said: "I would personally like to see something the size of Lidl on this site than demolish something in the centre of town for a supermarket."
Cllr John Gains said the council should think about the Louth families who are on a low income.
He said: "This is a very, very low wage area and I imagine a lot of people are on the minimum wage. I ask you to think very, very hard when making your vote as we could be denying 30 people a job."
An open day for members of the public to view the Lidl plans will take place today at the Salvation Army Hall on Church Street from 11am-7pm.
Keep checking your Grimsby Telegraph for further updates.
4 Comments
by Stan Butler, On the Busses
Monday, March 08 2010, 6:05AM
“Yet again the LTT, the 'Louth Town Taliban' rears it's ugly head. Anyone involved in the decision that had a vested business interest? I wonder whether if a councillor owned the land would the decion be different?”
by MARGUERITE and DAVID VESSEY, SAWTRY
Saturday, March 06 2010, 8:10AM
“WE SHOP AT LIDL AND THEY ARE A GOOD RETAILER SERVING A IMPORTANT PART OF THE FOOD CONSUMERS IN A VIBRANT AND EXCITING MANNER. LOUTH CURRENTLY LACKS SUCH A FOOD OUTLET AND A FAIR AMOUNT OF THE RESIDENTS WOULD OBTAIN GREAT BENEFIT IF LIDL COMES TO LOUTH. ELECTED COUNCILORS SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER WHOSE INTERESTS THEY SHOULD BEAR IN MIND IN SUCH MATTERS. LOUTH HAS A HISTORY IN MISSING OUT ON OPPORTUNITIES AND THIS MAY WELL TURN OUT TO BE YET ANOTHER SUCH EXAMPLE? LETS HOPE IT,S NOT TOO LATE FOR REALISM TO BE APPLIED.”
by Karlos, Near Louth, Lincs
Thursday, March 04 2010, 11:31AM
“can't see what the problem is. The kind of stuff they sell is not exactly high roller or gold plated, so won't affect Town centre retail too much, ideal setting, plenty of access, let's be honest, getting into Louth cenhtre is a nightmare anyway, so having a Lidl on the outskirts is ideal, on a bus route anyway, and right next to a housing estate. The councillors are true to form, usually blinkered, not quite plum and small minded. Let's hope they get approval on appeal ......... let it be judged by someone with an IQ in double figures.”
by graham, cleethorpes
Thursday, March 04 2010, 9:23AM
“If this had been an application by Tesco I bet the bung would have been bigger and the application would have gone through on the nod.”