Campaigners are claiming a ‘David versus Goliath’-style victory after councillors threw out plans to extend an Aldi supermarket in Wollaston. Members of Dudley Council’s Planning Committee unanimously rejected an application by the company to increase the size of their store, despite an offer to spend £47,500 on improvements to nearby community areas.
Controversy raged around the plan because Aldi wanted to take up a third of an open green space to the rear of their Bridgnorth Road store at head of The Dell cul-de-sac. Speaking after the meeting, on January 13, Wollaston councillor Andrew Tromans said: “First, a huge well done to the residents who fought so hard over so many years against this application, we are not out of the woods yet but this is a fantastic result.
“This has been a David and Goliath struggle with wealth and power on one side and a community on the other and David beat Goliath.” Council officers recommended the scheme for approval, saying a promise from Aldi to improve what was left of the green area on The Dell, plus adding new gym equipment on a nearby recreation area, was enough to overcome concerns about the loss of green space.
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Committee members were not convinced and said they were not aware some of the extension would be retail space – which they felt would bring more delivery lorries into the area. They also felt not enough had been done to ensure the safety of young people crossing the busy road by the store.
Cllr Elaine Taylor said: “My understanding was this extension was for warehousing only but it seems it’s a proposed retail area extension as well. “There is no extra customer parking for this proposed extension.”
The committee was told by planning officers that a transport assessment found there was no greater need for parking at the store and the current 88 parking spaces was adequate.
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The comments from the officer were greeted with shouts of ‘no way’ from members of the public. Cllr Shaun Keasey said: “Has there been any thought whatsoever as to the safety of young people who will take the most direct route from this piece of grass land to the larger grassed area? It’s been a passion to me to protect small areas of green land.”
The panel rejected the application on the grounds of loss of public open space and highway’s safety concerns – the decision led to applause from campaigners at the meeting. Aldi has the option to appeal to the government’s Planning Inspectorate to overturn the decision however former Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb, who was among the campaigners, had other ideas.
Ms Webb said: “What needs to happen is perhaps Cllr Tromans, myself and all the other campaigners sit down with Aldi and really explain to them why this shouldn’t go ahead. “I don’t think they know the area well enough to fully understand that they can put £47,000 into this but it is the wrong mitigation, they have been led in the wrong direction.”
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Cllr Tromans added: “I would like to see them putting more than £47,000 into this community which is, frankly, chicken feed to them.”