Objections raised to Aldi store proposals in Dales

A controversial bid to build a discount food store on the outskirts of a Yorkshire market town has drawn hundreds of objections.

Skipton Ford and Aldi Stores Ltd has applied to Craven District Council for permission to build the single-storey discount food store plus parking for 85 cars on the Airedale Business Centre, Millennium Road, Keighley Road, Skipton.

The applicants say the development will generate 25 full- and part-time jobs.

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The plans for the store, which is estimated to have a projected £3.7m turnover, also include new public vehicle and pedestrian access to be built off the Keighley Road (A6131) and changes to the external areas within the remaining Skipton Ford premises.

Despite strong criticism from Bradley Parish Council and more than 400 letters of objection, members of Craven District Council’s Planning Committee will be advised to approve the proposals on Monday.

Bradley Parish Council has raised concerns over road safety because of the current volumes of traffic on the A6131 Skipton Road at peak times and the close proximity of the new junction to the existing roundabout, bus stops and access from the nearest estate over the canal bridge.

Councillors have questioned the commercial need for another supermarket, saying the business park was intended to be a non-retail area and claiming it does not benefit local residents.

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The parish council claims the proposal is contrary to the local plan and will lead to “overcrowding” of the site.

Craven Council has received 404 letters of objection in 14 standard formats from residents of Bradley as well as a further two objections.

It has also been sent 129 pre-printed cards with individual written comments from local residents supporting the scheme.

The store’s supporters insist the development will not affect local traders as the range of goods sold is restricted.

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They say the location avoids town centre congestion and that a local store would reduce the need to travel to Aldi in Keighley or Colne, saving petrol.

Supporters claim the proposals would provide more choice and greater competition with existing supermarkets, “which would be good for local residents/consumers, and provide more jobs”.

However, critics claim there is no need for another supermarket in Skipton and that the development would increase car use and harm smaller shops including Bradley village store.

They fear that approval of the scheme would lead to further retail development on the industrial estate “and a retail park would lead to the demise of the market town” and increase local road congestion.

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However a report to be considered by councillors suggests the village shop will not be harmed by the new store. It says: “Although this shop will not be immune from economic difficulties and competition, and no direct study has been made into this specific impact, the focus of the Aldi store on main food shopping and absence of ancillary goods (such as newspapers and magazines and tobacco) suggest top-up shopping in the village shop is unlikely to be significantly affected by the proposal.”

Officers accept there are no suitable sites for a food store of the type proposed in the town centre of Skipton or on its edge.

But the report concludes that “there is no evidence that the development would have a significant adverse effect on the vitality and viability of the town centre, or its role as a market town, or that it would have any adverse impacts on any existing or committed investment in the town centre”.

Furthermore it adds that the benefits of the development would result in “sustainable economic growth” in accordance with national planning guidance.