30 jobs for Stafford as new Aldi store gets go-ahead

It will be built at Queensville on the main A34 and include an 80-space car park.

It means the town centre will soon boast seven supermarkets - the existing Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Lidl and the new Aldi, Morrisons and Marks & Spencer food hall.

Aldi was approved by Stafford Borough Council's planning committee this week, despite concerns it would result in more traffic on the already-congested roads.

Twelve people objected to the scheme on traffic grounds - and that there were already enough supermarkets.

However, more than 100 people wrote in supporting the idea.

The new 1,534sqm supermarket will be built on Queensville on land currently occupied by Freedom Caravans, Bargain Booze and a Gulf petrol station.

Agent Nick Bradshaw said the scheme had a great deal of support in the community as Aldi customers were forced to travel to Cannock, Rugeley and Stone. He said that the impact on traffic would be minimal and there were far more positives than negatives.

But Forebridge councillor Christine Baron said she was concerned on the effect Aldi would have on smaller local businesses and that people in Windsor Road and York Road already had problems entering and leaving their homes due to heavy traffic. She was reassured that access to the supermarket would be from Queensville.

A spokesman for the chain said: "We believe the Freedom Caravans site in Queensville is an excellent opportunity to offer the local community an improved choice when completing their shopping by providing a new neighbourhood food store, located in an area of Stafford where there is a limited offering for residents.

"We are excited about the prospect of coming to Stafford."

Meanwhile, outline plans for up to 45 homes earmarked for fields off Little Tixall Lane in Great Haywood were also given the go-ahead.

It came despite more than 20 neighbours objecting to the scheme. Concerns were raised by residents over increased traffic if the houses were built.

The scheme will consist of a mixture of two and four-bedroom homes and 14 will be classed as affordable housing.