A BID by supermarket chain Aldi to turn Yate’s former Cineworld cinema into its latest branch has been recommended for approval by South Gloucestershire council officers.
But the final decision on the German discount retailer’s application will be taken by a committee in May after two councillors said it needed to be discussed in public.
The German retailer says that, if approved, the new store at the Riverside Retail Park will create up to 40 “full-time equivalent” jobs.
The application, published in January, has split opinion, with more than 700 people writing in to comment on South Gloucestershire Council’s planning website.
A majority of those writing in – 367 – were in favour, with 309 objecting and the others classed as neutral by the council.
The application is expected to be decided by the council’s development management committee on May 15.
‘Key issues’ need to be resolved
Yate North Liberal Democrat ward councillor Chris Willmore, who is the council’s cabinet member for planning, was one of those who ‘called in’ the application.
She said: “As local councillors we would all prefer this to remain as a cinema, or failing that, in a community use – whether private or public sector.
“Accepting this is not possible unfortunately, the provision of an Aldi is something residents have argued for, so there is local support for the principle. I appreciate there is also local opposition.
“I am not opposing the principle of converting the disused cinema to an Aldi, so this is not a referral for refusal.
“My concern, and my reason for referral is that the reports and conditions do not address some key issues sufficiently.
“These need to be resolved to ensure appropriate conditions are attached to the consent.”
Decision should be made ‘in a public forum’
Liz Brennan (Con, Frenchay & Downend), also called for a committee to make the decision.
She said: “The rapid expansion of Yate in recent years has highlighted a glaring omission in our local infrastructure: the lack of family-oriented entertainment options.
“While I always welcome the addition of retail spaces in Yate, I think this application should be decided by democratically elected councillors in a public forum rather than under delegated arrangements.”
Rival supermarket Tesco also asked the council to make a decision in committee, citing the need to examine “critically deficient” areas in the application.