Lidl has responded to accusations that mistakes during the construction of its Wellington store are causing delays to the new railway station project in Somerset.
At a Somerset Council planning committee meeting on August 26 in Taunton, officials discussed progress on the spine road linking Nynehead Road to the railway station’s car park, which passes through a planned development of 200 new homes.
While part of this road was built before Lidl opened its store in April 2023, council investigations revealed that Lidl’s section does not meet adoptable standards, hindering completion of the access road.
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Simon Fox, the council’s major project planning officer, explained that Lidl’s failure to build the road section to the required standard prevented the council from guaranteeing proper access to both the new station and housing development. Following extensive investigations, Lidl must now carry out remedial works to bring the road up to standard before work on the remaining sections can proceed.
In response, Lidl emphasized it is not obstructing development and that repairs will be made as swiftly as possible to prevent further hold-ups. A company spokesperson stated: “We are undertaking remedial works to our access road in coordination with the council, who have been involved throughout our project. This is to ensure alignment with future developments, and our scheme remains entirely independent of any future planning applications.”
The spokesperson added that these remedial works will not interfere with any highway improvements needed for the railway station or housing developments now or in the future.
Separately, West of England Developments (Taunton) Ltd., responsible for delivering the new homes and road, tried to negotiate land purchase with Lidl to improve access at the Taunton Road roundabout and change road priorities. When talks failed, the council approved a payment of £359,000 from the developer to fund future road improvements, affordable housing, or school resources for Wellington.
Lidl reiterated its willingness to discuss land sales and confirmed its support for long-term infrastructure aims in the region.