CITY TO GET NEW SUPERMARKET
ANOTHER new discount supermarket has been given permission to open in Cardiff.
Aldi has been given permission to build a new shop off Caerphilly Road in Birchgrove.
It will be built on the site of the former Electrocoin factory and Texaco petrol station, and will create 40 new jobs.
The item was heard at a meeting of Cardiff council’s planning committee on Wednesday.
Two of the ward councillors gave their support but Independent councillor Fenella Bowden said she had concerns over traffic.
Coun Bowden said that the development could have a negative impact on residents’ quality of life due to the increase in noise, traffic movements, loss of parking provision and light pollution.
She also raised concerns about the impact on Caerphilly Road.
“The proposed entrance/exit for the development will create additional strain on an already complicated road lay-out at this location. The stacking of cars trying to enter the site from the north will be a significant issue, as will vehicles exiting to go south along Caerphilly Road”.
Committee member Coun Driscoll asked how it will work for drivers trying to exit from the car park.
“Sometimes that traffic is nose to tail going into town. They may struggle to get into that lane?”
He was told highways officers have looked at the site and while they will not install measures like a box junction or camera yet, they will assess it.
Conservative Lyn Hudson said: “Something had to be done with that site. Of the people who have contacted me, I haven’t had many objections.
“There have been more in favour because this has been an eyesore.”
Labour’s Graham Hinchey sent written comments and also said the site had been an eyesore.
“The land has been a local eyesore and location for dangerous and antisocial behaviour for nearly a decade, so a long-awaited development on this site has been welcomed by the majority of local residents.
“I thank council officers and the development team for taking up my significant concerns and hoarding up the site in recent months to ensure the safety of young people and listening to local residents and police concerns I have been passing on”.
An Aldi spokesman said: “Now that a resolution to grant planning consent has been given, we expect to start work to prepare the site for our new store on Caerphilly Road, Cardiff later this year.
“We hope to complete the work in autumn 2018. Once opened, the store will create up to 40 new jobs and we look forward to helping people in the area shop and save closer to home.”