Legal experts representing Aldi’s bid to build a new supermarket in Whitchurch have rubbished claims by Lidl that it would have to close if permission was granted.
Last month, Lidl threatened a legal fight to stop an Aldi store being built in Wrexham Road, close to the A41, claiming it would be forced out of business.
The company, which is in Bridgewater Street, presented evidence to Shropshire Council’s planning officers that suggestions that the store was overtrading were false through its representatives Plan A.
It also stated that any planning permission granted would be based on incorrect evidence.
However, Jones Long LeSalle, known as JLL and based in Manchester, have strongly rebuffed the claims made by Plan A, and believes their evidence should be discredited when it comes to be considered.
The legal firm, in the letter to Shropshire Council’s principal planning officer Karen Townend, stated that Lidl’s evidence is purely a threat from a competitor.
They said: “Aldi has reviewed locations where it has recently opened new stores which include an existing Lidl store.
“In each of these locations, the Lidl store has continued to trade and remain competitive. Not one Lidl store has closed.
“There is no compelling evidence to demonstrate that Lidl’s Whitchurch store would close as a result of the Aldi store being approved.”
JLL go on to include a list of towns within the same area as a potential Whitchurch store that Lidl have recently opened, including nearby Oswestry and Wrexham.
The letter also states that Aldi has carried out its own empirical evidence, such as monitoring deliveries, queue times and car parking, on Lidl’s trading position.
Through this, JJL claims on Aldi’s behalf that Lidl and Plan A’s findings are factually incorrect and are only presented to Shropshire Council in order to protect the company’s commercial position.
Shropshire Council is yet to decide on whether the controversial proposal will go through.
nWhat do you think? Are Lidl and Aldi engaging in tit-for-tat? Write to us and tell us your view!
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