Louth Aldi store proposal is scrutinised

A PRESSURE group, which campaigns to maintain a town's unique shopping experience, is cautiously welcoming plans for a discounted supermarket in the town.

Aldi is hoping to submit a planning application next month for their plans to demolish the derelict Malt Kiln and build a medium-sized supermarket there.

Nick Louth, from Keep Louth Special, said: "We feel that the development offers an attractive option to Louth consumers who need access to low-cost food, without running the risk of doing much damage to the premium offering within the town's independent shops.

"It is a far less damaging project than a large supermarket being built on the livestock market."

Though the size of the Aldi store is a little larger than Keep Louth Special would have liked to see, and it is not quite as well connected to the existing town centre, it would remove an eyesore, and would crucially provide 140 spaces of all-day free car parking.

Alan Mumby, the chairman of Keep Louth Special, said: "This is something the town is in desperate need of since the local authority steeply increased parking charges

"The crucial point is that Aldi provides only own brands and a limited fresh-food offering.

"It will not be going head-to-head with the town market nor the specialist food shops which helped earn the town its accolade of Britain's favourite market town."

The group is waiting to see if the actual Aldi planning proposal, expected in mid-August, bears out the advantages it claims.

These include only one daily delivery, fewer than most similar sized stores, and unloading within the store, which should minimise noise disruption to neighbours, claims it will use local firms to help build the development and will locally source produce.

KLS has already made suggestions to Aldi for improved pedestrian and cycle access to the site, and for a design frontage to Newbridge Hill in keeping with the area.

Keep Louth Special will soon be announcing an exciting community-led alternative redevelopment of that site which would retain a modernised livestock market, and greatly expand the commercial power of this valuable plot, without damaging the existing town centre.