Concerns raised over Aldi plans in Hungerford

Town councillors have listed the full extent of their concerns over proposals for a new Aldi store in Hungerford.

As previously reported, planning permission is sought for a 1.725sqm store with 102 customer parking spaces on land north of Charnham Street.

It states: “The store will be located on the western boundary, fronting on to Charnham Street; car parking will occupy the remainder of the site, to the east and north of the store.”

The town council’s environment and planning committee has asked district councillor Denise Gaines (Lib Dem, Hungerford and Kintbury) to ‘call in’ the application to West Berkshire Council’s western area planning committee for a decision by elected councillors following a public debate.

Meanwhile the committee expressed the following concerns:

* the potential impact on nearby Undys Farm

* loss of habitat and proximity to the Town and Manor of Hungerford’s wetlands project

* loss of tree cover

* insufficient landscape management

* traffic management at entry and exit points

* insufficient solar panelling

* potential impact on the nearby school

* the need for a pedestrian crossing and the potential for the narrow footway by the Bear Hotel to become more congested.

The committee noted that no members of the public had so far lodged comments with the district council’s planning department and suggested that town councillors should liaise with Town and Manor trustees.

The committee also determined to ask the district council to facilitate a public consultation meeting with the applicants or their agents, preferably to be held in the town hall.

Meanwhile the application can be viewed in full, and commented on, by visiting the planning section of West Berkshire Council’s website and using the reference 25/01203/FULMAJ.