Discount food store plan – with drive-through restaurant

PLANS have been drawn up for a major new discount food store at Warrington, with an associated drive-through restaurant.
Joint proposals have been submitted to the borough council by Lidl and KFC for land at the junction of Thewlis Street and Old Liverpool Road.
Objections have been received from three local residents – but three others have written letters of support.
But highways chiefs oppose the scheme on road safety and access grounds and an independent retail consultant employed by the borough council is recommending the proposals be thrown out because of a likely impact on planned investment in the town centre and the risk of a significant adverse impact on the viability of the existing Lovely Lane neighbourhood centre.
They point out the new discount store would compete directly with a Co-op store which anchors the Lovely Lane centre.
The council’s arboriculture officer points out that the site, which has been left unmaintained for years, has been heavily colonised with willow, alder and silver birch, as well as many shrubs The removal of such a large number of trees, regardless of their amenity value, would impact greatly on the street scene.
A report to be considered by the council’s development management committee states that Lidl would create 20-30 full and part-time jobs and KFC would employ 38 full-time and 15 part-time staff. Lidl would be open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sundays. KFC would be 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.
Planning officers are recommending the scheme be refused.
Picture: The wooded site, viewed from Sankey Way.