‘Health check’ call for town before new Lidl development
RGDATA LODGE OBJECTION TO M1 RETAIL PARK PROJECT AS THEY FEAR IT WILL IMPACT HEAVILY ON DROGHEDA’S TOWN CENTRE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
RGDATA, the representative association for independent family owned grocery outlets nationwide, have lodged an objection with An Bord Pleanala over Louth County Council’s decision to grant permission to Lidl for a major new store in the M1 Retail Park.
Lidl intend to demolish their present foodstore and replace it with a two storey development. It will add to their other store on the Donore Road which is presently under reconstruction.
‘RGDATA objects to this new application to demolish the existing store and replace it with a much larger store which, due to its increased scale, will not act as a ‘complimentary hub’ but will draw trade from a wider catchment area and have a significant impact on the vitality and viability of Drogheda town centre and be contrary to the sustainable planning of the area,’ they state in their objection.
‘As we discussed in our objection to Louth County Council, Drogheda town centre has suffered loss of business and footfall over the last number of years. THere are currently four discount foodstores in the vicinity of Drogheda town, two Aldi foodstores and a Lidl on Donore Road, which is currently being reconstructed as a new concept Lidl and will reopen in July 2017.’
They say the closure of Supervalu in Stockwell Street in December 2016 ‘was a further blow to the town centre’, leaving a vacant unit of 15,000sq ft.
They want the council to undertake a ‘ health check’ of the town centre and feel no new large convenience stores are permitted until that is done.
‘A town centre health check will identify key data about the town and assist the local authority in identifying exactly what new development is required, what is in the best interests of promoting a good retail mix and what will best serve the actual population of the town.’
They want vacant town centre commercial property to be re-used before allowing out of town or edge of town developments.
They add that with 159 car parking spaces, the development will be ‘almost wholly reliant’ on private cars and goes against national transport objectives. A decision is expected by July 12th next.