Stockport council has turned down Lidl’s proposal for a new store. Residents raised concerns about traffic and the supermarket’s tactics to gain public support.
Stockport: The council just rejected Lidl’s plans for a new store in Cheadle Heath. They accused the supermarket of using some pretty questionable tactics to rally support.
Lidl wanted to set up shop on the old Cheadle Heath Works site. They planned to include an in-store bakery and plenty of parking spaces. Sounds nice, right? But not everyone agreed.
Residents were worried about traffic issues in the area. They felt a new supermarket would only make things worse. Almost 60 people objected, fearing it would create chaos near the M60 exit.
The council also had concerns about how the store would look. They thought the design didn’t fit the local vibe. Town hall officers recommended rejecting the plans, saying it didn’t respect the area’s character.
Finally, the councillors made the call to reject the application. This decision came after some drama in December when the proposal was pulled from the agenda last minute.
After that, Lidl claimed over 400 locals signed a petition supporting the store. But councillors said Lidl handed out postcards to residents, highlighting the benefits and asking for support.
One councillor, David Meller, called the postcard campaign “disgusting.” He believed it was a sneaky way to create a false sense of support. He suggested the site should be used for housing instead.
Another councillor, Jilly Julian, agreed. She felt the postcard effort undermined the integrity of earlier consultations. Residents were anxious about the traffic, which wasn’t reflected in the glossy materials Lidl provided.
One local even shared how hard it is to get out of their driveway due to traffic. They mentioned numerous accidents in the area, calling it a dangerous spot for a big store.
On Lidl’s side, Jonathan Harper argued that any harm to the area was minimal. He said they worked hard with the council to address traffic concerns and highlighted the potential benefits, like new jobs and a £10 million investment.
