Fears for shopping centre if new Lidl gets green light
A KIRKLEES councillor has questioned whether the Salendine Nook Shopping Centre can survive if fresh plans to build a Lidl supermarket at the former Spotted Cow pub get the go-ahead.
Cahal Burke, (Lindley, Lib Dem), spoke out as YorkshireLive revealed that the shopping giant was preparing to launch a second application after the previous one was refused in December in favour of allowing rival Aldi plans to go ahead at nearby Oakes.
Clr Burke has raised “concerns for smaller traders in the area”.
Last time more than 1,000 people signed the petition objecting to Lidl’s plans.
Sainsbury’s has a medium-sized store in the shopping centre but there are a cluster of shops as well as a dental surgery and a florists.
On a website dedicated to the plans, Lidl says: “The proposed development would bring the now vacant site back into active use, and improve shopping choice and competition for local residents in this growing part of Huddersfield.
“While there is a small but very busy Sainsbury’s store at Salendine Nook Local Centre, there are currently no medium or large-sized food stores in the north-western part of Huddersfield, which means that there is limited local choice and competition.
“The nearest Lidl stores are located to the south of the town centre, at Castlegate and Wakefield Road. Residents are therefore being forced to travel to facilities outside of the local area to meet their food shopping needs.
“This is particularly difficult for those people who do not have ready access to private transport.
“There is sufficient expenditure available in the local area to support stores operated by both Lidl and Aldi, without impacting upon the viability of existing centres in the local area.”
However, Clr Burke said: “I and colleagues do have concerns for some of our smaller traders in the area and if they will be able to compete and our local shopping centre in Salendine Nook that has been serving the community for many years.
“There are also traffic concerns and issues that would need to be overcome if possible.
“The pre-application community consultation exercise will be important and will generate public opinion.
“I, along with ward colleagues Clrs Richard Eastwood and Anthony Smith, are listening to residents and local business owners and taking their views into account. When the application is submitted, we will comment formally on the proposals based on feedback from residents.”
Lidl says it expects to submit the application to build on the derelict site on New Hey Road to Kirklees
Council this autumn.