New Lidl store coming to Calcot

West Berkshire councillors approve plans despite residents' concerns

PLANS for a new Lidl store in Calcot have been approved by West Berkshire councillors.

Members of the eastern area planning committee approved the application for the new supermarket at a meeting last Wednesday.

The new Lidl will be situated on the A4 Bath Road and will have 100 parking spaces for customers.

Planning officers had recommended that planning permission for the 2,432 sq m-store be granted.

However, concerns were raised by local residents over the impact the new store will have on traffic in the area, with that section of the A4 already home to a large Sainsbury’s, an Aldi and the new IKEA.

Ward councillor for Calcot Richard Somner (Con, Calcot) had also opposed the plans and told the Newbury Weekly News he was disappointed at the decision.

Mr Somner, who sits on the eastern area planning committee, said: “I’m disappointed personally, but I undertsand there were a number of residents that were in favour of it.

“My preference for the site would have been to see affordable housing to go in there, which was on the cards at one point.”

Mr Somner raised concerns over the impact of traffic in the area, which he said would be exacerbated after plans for a 45-home development in Mill Lane were also given the go-ahead at the same meeting.

“I live on the ward so I fully understand local people’s concerns about traffic in that location,” he said.

“For me, I don’t believe we know the full impact of IKEA, we have still got Christmas to come, and there is development planned for the M4, and then you have the Mill Lane development just further along Bath Road, which will increase the volume of traffic in the same patch.

“While many people will welcome the opportunity for shopping and the competition for prices, I think that will be at the cost to local residents.”