‘There’s a Tesco and a Co-op ... I don’t think village needs an Aldi’
SUPERMARKET GIANT EYES UP 15 POTENTIAL NEW SITES
TRADERS in Radcliffe-on-trent are concerned about how the arrival of an Aldi supermaket could hit their businesses.
The Rushcliffe village is one of 15 areas of Nottinghamshire which has been earmarked as a potential site by the German supermarket chain.
Aldi has been on an expansion drive in recent years, opening around one supermarket a week on average.
However, independent shops in the village are hesitant about the prospect of an Aldi.
Rob Smith has run Pen 2 Paper in Main Street in the village for more than five years.
“There is a Tesco and Co-op very close to each other already,” he said.
“It really all depends on what the store would look like – I don’t think the village needs one, especially a big one.
“But then Aldi undercuts a lot of other supermarkets with their prices so some people may want that.
“We sell cards, which a lot of other places sell, so we’ve tried to build our business by providing quality cards.
“The only thing it may do which benefits smaller businesses is increase footfall, which I know a lot of businesses would like to see here.
“But it would be a big change and the worry would be that the smaller, independent shops lose out on business.”
Frank Seyfert, who has run Burleys Engraving and Trophies for more than 20 years, said: “It would be horrendous.
“We have two supermarkets already. The difference with Aldi is that they do a bit of everything. For example, I do a lot of gardening and DIY items and I know that’s something Aldi does as well.
“It would be a massive change for Radcliffe and I’m not sure the village is big enough. I think it would kill me off, to be honest.”
Aldi says each site should be around 1.5 acres and able to accommodate a 20,000 sq ft store with around 100 parking spaces, ideally on a prominent main road and with good visibility and access.
It is looking for “freehold towncentre or edge-of-centre sites” suitable for development.
An Aldi spokesperson said: “Radcliffe-on-trent is one of the many areas we are currently investigating for potential new stores, and our interest at this stage does not guarantee we will ultimately open in that area.
“The impact any new store has on residents and local businesses will be one of a number of aspects that are looked at in detail as part of the planning process.”
The full list of locations it is targeting in Nottinghamshire is: Balderton, Beeston, Calverton, Carlton, Clifton, Eastwood, Gedling, Lenton, central Nottingham, Ollerton, Radcliffe-on-trent, Southwell, Toton, West Bridgford and Wollaton.