Trust outline concerns, as Lidl officially submit plans for new Alexandria store

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Lidl has formally submitted plans for a new store in the heart of Alexandria.However the chair of a local residents group has said she is “disheartened” by the proposals, warning they will be detrimental to the town centre.The supermarket giant has been targeting a move to the Vale for almost a decade, with proposals taking a major step forward last week as they applied for planning permission.If approved the new store would feature a 1,251m sales area “that represents a multi-million pound investment” according to chiefs.It would create around 40 new jobs and would also feature facilities including an instore bakery.Janice Ross of the Vale of Leven Trust is disappointed by the plans however, having called for the new store to be built in the heart of the Vale to draw more people to the Main Street.

If approved, the new supermarket would be accessed from Bank Street.She told the Lennox: “We’re not saying no to Lidl, that’s fine.“The issue is where it is.

All they are doing is continuing to extend the town centre - to the detriment of the other traders.“It feels like that approach of doing something rather than nothing.

But no thought has been given to if this something is what the Vale needs. That’s my issue.“It feels as if it doesn’t matter if it destroys the other traders.