Discount food store gets go-ahead

PLANNING chiefs at Warrington have given the green light to a controversial plan for a major new discount food store and adjoining drive-through restaurant.
The decision by the borough council’s development management committee means Lidl and KFC can press ahead with their proposals on land at the junction of Thewlis Street and Old Liverpool Road.
More than 280 letters of support were received by the council, compared with 28 letters of objection.
But there were also objections from Burtonwood and Westbrook Parish Council and, originally, from highways chiefs.
The scheme was considered by the committee back in February when, despite officers recommending it be thrown out, councillors decided to defer a decision to allow the applicants to amend their proposals.
The original plan was opposed on road safety and access grounds and there was also concern that the new store would compete directly with a Co-op store which anchors the Lovely Lane neighbourhood centre.
There were also concerns about the loss of a large number of trees and shrubs which would impact on the street scene.
But the committee was told the applicants had made a number amendments to the plan to meet the objections.
Alterations had been made to the internal site layout, five additional trees had been added to landscaping proposals and there had been changes to the roof design and a reduction in signage.
Lidl will create 20-30 nes jobs and KFC will employ 38 full-time and 15 part-time staff.
Lidl will open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sundays. KFC will open from 7am to 11.30pm daily.
Earlier plans for a retail store on the site, submitted in 1993, were refused on various grounds, including likely impact on the Lovely Lane neighbourhood centre and on the vitality of the town centre.
Picture: The wooded site, viewed from Sankey Way.