Aldi coming to Camelon
Aldi is Camelon-bound
Local authority planners have given Aldi the green light to open a new store in Camelon.
Falkirk Council’s planning committee agreed last Wednesday to grant planning permission for the store, which will be located in Redbrae Road to the west of the Mariner Centre - which used to house Riley, Dunn and Wilson and The Falkirk 2011.
Council Leader Craig Martin said: “Riley, Dunn and Wilson closing had a massive impact on the local area so it’s important we understand the importance of this store and have some degree of flexibility.
“I think this is a great application.”
Councillor John McLuckie added: “It’s to be welcomed as a job creation opportunity and for bringing a different retail choice to the area.”
The proposed 1414 square metre single structure will be rectangular in shape, of contemporary design and facing Redbrae Road.
Members heard the relatively small store’s annual turnover would be an estimated £3.48 million and that, although it would provide some competition for the nearby Tesco store, it would not have an impact on businesses in Falkirk town centre.
Johnston Press, which owns the site, took in the early stages of an initiative in 2007 to market the location, but this was abandoned.
The report stated: “Further marketing in 2008 secured Aldi as a preferred bidder, but Aldi withdrew interest in 2009. A revised marketing exercise showed interest expressed solely from retailers and developers with a retail
focus, with Aldi as the preferred bidder for the site.”
There were concerns the store would create traffic problems with the Tesco store so close by. However, Russell Steedman, the council’s road network co-ordinator, said: “We don’t think this will have any effect on traffic movements along Glasgow Road. It should work well with the Tesco traffic signals already there.”
Permission was granted for the store subject to Aldi meeting a number of conditions, including a financial contribution of £1500 to the ongoing fund for a memorial to Camelon-born Canadian legend Tommy Douglas and a further financial contribution of £12,500 to address the annual costs associated with the routine maintenance and energy costs of the signals on Glasgow Road for a period of 10 years.
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Saturday 25 May 2013
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