Residents still fighting Lidl over gym site

RESIDENTS are calling for retail giant Lidl to think again over its plans for a new Birmingham store.

More than 60 turned out to protest against the store, which is due to be built in Pershore Road, Stirchley.

The German firm wants to knock down a Fitness First gym and bowling alley but opponents claim it is not needed as a new Tesco superstore is on the way already.

They have also complained about the potential increase in traffic on the already gridlocked Pershore Road, the loss of leisure facilities and point out there are other derelict sites ripe for development nearby.

They were left stunned when, after initially opposing the scheme, the city council’s planning committee made a U-turn and voted it through. Councillors had been warned that Lidl would have strong grounds for a costly legal challenge if it was refused planning permisison.

Among those joining the protest were local MP Steve McCabe (Lab, Selly Oak), the Friends of Stirchley Park, Super Stirchley campaign and councillors Mary Locke, Karen McCarthy and Brigid Jones.

Mr McCabe has been a critic of the council’s planning department highlighting its failure to stem unwanted student developments in Selly Oak.

He said: “The council should have refused the application but Lidl are the people who can stop it now. They are demolishing our gym and bowling alley to build supermarket nobody wants. We’ll have more supermarkets per square mile than anywhere else.”

More than 2,250 people have signed petitions against the store.