Aldi centrepiece of £9m town plan

THE Devon town of Ivybridge is to undergo a £9million regeneration which will include the building of an Aldi supermarket – but not a pub.

A full meeting of South Hams District Council agreed to take forward the proposals, which it hopes will result in an economic boost to reinvigorate the town.

Councillors closely examined the risks involved as well as the technical and economic viability of the project.

The regeneration plans include developing Leonards Road car park to include an Aldi discount food store, a proposal widely supported by local people.

It is estimated the proposed store could create between 30 and 40 jobs, with up to 100 shoppers able to use the store at any one time, and anticipated to use other town facilities while in the area.

This is supported by 90 minutes of free parking offered at the store, although average store visits are 30 minutes, the council said.

It was agreed by councillors the plan would succeed in regenerating Ivybridge town centre and should now proceed to the detailed design stage required ahead of any planning application being made. If the project proceeds through to construction, the cost to the council is £9 million.

Cllr Hilary Bastone, SHDC’s deputy leader, said: “We know there are still many hurdles to overcome. It’s really important to us that we continue talking with the people who live and work in the town and keep on discussing this project.”

Locals have rejected the idea of a pub or drive-thru takeaway.

DOWNING Street has insisted its hotel quarantine policy is “in line” with other countries, despite being warned by an Australian epidemiologist that allowing travellers to leave their room for fresh air is “very risky”.

Professor Michael Toole, from the Burnet Institute in Melbourne, Victoria, said rules in Australia had to be strengthened to reduce the chance of airborne transmission - suggesting England should adopt similar measures. He said there have been Covid-19 cases in the city where an infected guest opened their room door and “with the positive pressure, this kind of fog of virus went out into the corridor, travelled down and infected hotel staff”. Asked for his views on people being allowed to leave their rooms in England’s quarantine hotels while accompanied by guards, he said: “We’ve learnt that that is a very risky procedure.”

UK nationals or residents returning to England from 33 “red list” countries will be required to spend 10 days in a Governmentdesignated hotel from Monday but, unlike in Australia, they will be allowed to leave their rooms for fresh air.