Aldi has received planning permission to open a new supermarket in Keynsham, located on World’s End Lane near the recycling centre, despite concerns that the increased traffic could disrupt the entire industrial estate.
The Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee voted in favor of Aldi’s proposal, going against the advice of council planning officers. Officers had recommended rejecting the application due to the potential for serious traffic congestion on Pixash Lane and Broadmead Lane. Nevertheless, the proposal enjoyed strong public support, with nearly 200 residents backing the plans and only 20 opposing them.
Aldi representative Elliott Saunders addressed the committee, emphasizing the local demand for the store. “Keynsham wants and needs an Aldi,” he said. Saunders highlighted that the new supermarket would create 40 secure, high-quality jobs, with Aldi proud to be the UK’s highest paying supermarket chain. He added that the store would help local families manage tight budgets by offering quality food at the lowest prices available.
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Saunders also argued that traffic congestion issues predicted for the industrial estate mainly stem from other planned developments and would likely occur regardless of Aldi’s presence. Council highway officials, however, cautioned that Aldi’s supermarket could cause drivers to make hazardous maneuvers as they try to avoid traffic jams.
Among the planning committee members, Hal McFie of Keynsham East, who represents the area poised for the store, expressed excitement about the investment but ultimately voted against it due to traffic concerns. “I waited two hours to get out of Waitrose on a particular day,” he remarked, underlining the need for a workable traffic solution.
Other committee members shared similar reservations. Toby Simon from Bathwick noted that severe traffic jams during peak times could disrupt essential council services like waste collection and police station access. Meanwhile, Shaun Hughes from Midsomer Norton North argued that shoppers would adapt their habits, and that competition and additional choice in Keynsham were necessary, especially with plans for about 7,000 new houses in the area.
After an initial 4-4 deadlock on refusing the plans, the committee later voted 6-2 to delegate the approval authority to council officers, providing new conditions to address concerns.
Meanwhile, Aldi’s competitor Lidl has also expressed intentions to enter Keynsham’s market, planning to submit an application to build a store across from Waitrose on Broadmead Lane, signaling increased supermarket competition in the town.