By Harry Mottram: The plan by Lidl to build a new supermarket on a field off the London Road in Bath has been abandoned with the controversial plans withdrawn by developers. Campaigners had been battling the proposals for months with a number of arguments from covering another green space with a car park and large retail unit to damaging trade for smaller local shops.
Green Party Cllr Joanna Wright who had been at the forefront of the push to stop the development said: “The planning application for a Lidl on the London Road in Bath has been withdrawn. Looks like the impact on the strategic road network worked against this site along with impact to local shops and the entrance to a UNESCO world heritage site. Today is a good day, but the fight continues to stop any supermarket from being built on this site.”
Earlier this year 295 people lodged comments in support of the plans — but 945 people voiced their opposition. Joanna Wright, the councillor for the area on Bath and North East Somerset Council, was at a protest against the plans when Lidl held a consultation event on them. She said: “This is a green entrance to the city that the Georgians put in place hundreds of years ago […] We should not be building on it. We should be protecting it.”
Local Democracy reporter John Wimperis reported in February after consultation: “Plans to build a Lidl on a “wildlife haven” on the eastern edge of Bath saw almost a thousand people lodge objections on the council’s planning portal. Lidl stated it had “searched exhaustively” for suitable sites, and that the site off London Road next to Bath Rugby’s Lambridge training ground was the most suitable, accessible, and convenient. The discount supermarket company say the new shop will give people access to affordable food and bring 40 jobs to the area. They say their plans will increase biodiversity on the site by 40% through new tree, hedge, and wildflower planting, a seasonal wetland, green roof, bird baths, bat boxes, and bee towers. The woodland by the river would also be retained.”
At the time of the plans being lodged with the council Lidl said: “Being acutely aware of the local surroundings and the World Heritage Site designation, Lidl GB is proposing a sensitively-designed new foodstore, which will provide a spacious and attractive shopping environment for our customers.”
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They also said they would be planting new trees and plants to compensate for the development on a green field: “Extensive new tree and hedge planting, wildflower planting and a seasonal wetland area bordering London Road will enhance biodiversity and visually shield sections of the store.”
Now it appears the plans to build on the field opposite the Gloucester Road junction and next to Bath Rugby’s Lambridge training ground and backed to the River Avon which sometimes floods the bottom of the field has been pulled.