It Is Essential To Protect The Viability Of Our Existing Village Centres
As ward Councillors we have been approached by Aldi with regards to them purchasing land adjacent to the David Lloyd Centre, off Thamesdown Drive.
Aldi are keen to build a store on this site, which would require a change of land use, for which they are currently working on plans.
There is a fine balance in the planning of retail provision in residential areas. The designated retail areas at the North Swindon District Centre and village centres are successful because of this balance. If additional retail land was created for Aldi this could threaten the viability of theexisting village centres and as we have seen previously on St Andrew's Ridge to lose the localconvenience store would be a disaster for local residents. There arealso concerns about the impact of additional traffic.
Cllr Justin Tomlinson, "We have made it very clear to Aldi that a planning application to change the use of the hotel site will be opposed."