New Aldi approved in Market Rasen

West Lindsey District Council’s planning committee approved a proposal to bring Aldi to Market Rasen during a meeting on Wednesday.

According to the BBC Local Democracy Reporting Service, the development off Gallamore Lane includes a drive-thru Starbucks.

Property developer and applicant Morbaine said it would bring healthy competition to Tesco – the town’s only superstore.

The group’s planning director Keith Nutter said there was overwhelming support for the proposals, which he said would be “beneficial to the local community”.

He added that Residents needed to drive to either Lincoln or Louth to visit an Aldi.

Ward councillor Moira Westley also voiced her support for the scheme.

“As our town expands in size, our services must expand along with it, including our retail outlets and experiences.

“We believe that it would provide healthy competition, which will, in turn, result in a more affordable shopping experience for our residents as well as those from the wider area passing through.”

However, local business owner Matthew Horsfield wrote to express his concerns about how the development could pull more visitors away from the High Street, which he said “already has plenty of coffee shops and food retailers”.

Some other members shared this view, including councillor Tom Smith, who acknowledged that the High Street “has been struggling for a number of years.”

The proposal attracted a wide range of comments on the council’s planning portal, including from those who supported the scheme.

However, opponents said it would impact other retailers.

One person wrote: “Market Rasen already has a Tesco and a Co-op – it does not need an Aldi.

“Putting an Aldi in town will only kill off the remaining small businesses.”

In 2012, Market Rasen was one of 12 Portas Pilot towns that got a share of £1.2m, with advice from retail expert Mary Portas.

It was part of a government-backed scheme to revitalise high streets to attract people to local shops.

This article was originally published on the BBC website and rewritten for easy reading.