Retailer and council in fight over trees at site
LIDL WANTS THREE REMOVED OVER FEARS THEY WILL BLOCK VISIBILITY OF NEW STORE BUT COUNCIL STANDS BY RECENT PRESERVATION ORDER
A SUPERMARKET chain is in dispute over a Derby City Council plan to preserve trees which the retail giant fears could jeopardise the success of its new store.
Earlier this summer, the city council approved plans for a large new Lidl supermarket at the former Buzz Bingo hall on Foresters Park next to Sinfin Lane – opposite the Tenpin bowling venue.
And it has now come to light that the city council made a tree preservation order (TPO) for a number of trees located around the building earlier this year.
A TPO is legislation made by a local planning authority which makes it illegal for a single tree or a group of trees to be felled or deliberately damaged.
Lidl is particularly concerned that the TPO involves three Birch trees which stand by the side of the building next to Sinfin Lane.
Derby City Council says the trees have been given TPO status because they are “in the interests of public visual amenity”.
Lidl was planning to remove the three trees as part of its application, so therefore has officially objected to the TPO.
The supermarket chain says the trees should be removed to facilitate construction works.
Additionally, and possibly more importantly, the supermarket believes the trees will block visibility of the new store which could prevent passing customer trade.
A letter written to the city council on behalf of Lidl says: “The G1 (Birch) trees will restrict visibility of the proposed store for vehicles travelling along Sinfin Lane, which therefore decreases the store’s visibility to potential passing trade. A reduction in pass-by trip could adversely impact the viability of the new retail store.”
But Derby City Council believes Lidl is barking up the wrong tree.
It is the city council’s viewpoint the trees would not jeopardise the store’s potential success and therefore the TPO should remain.
A report from the authority before a planning meeting this week says: “The trees can be appreciated from the public realm and contribute materially to the amenities of the locality by playing an important part in providing a sense of scale and maturity and by having a general “greening” effect on the immediate area.
“The planning case officer and the tree preservation order officer were of the opinion that the tree group G1 could be retained without significant detriment to the visibility of the new store.”
It is noted that Lidl was offering to provide compensation for the loss of trees by contributions for tree replacements off site on councilowned land nearby. But the city council appears to have declined.
The authority’s Planning Control Committee will discuss the matter at tomorrow’s meeting and decide whether or not to upheld Lidl’s objection to the TPO.
The meeting is open to the public and available to watch on Derby City Council’s YouTube channel.
Billy Hudson, a local resident, said he felt the trees added beauty to the area.
He said: “I like all the trees around here and I agree with the city council on this one.
“I think what Lidl is saying is ridiculous.”