PLANS for an Aldi have been thrown out over fears the supermarket would harm trade in town centres and lead to job losses.

Councillors voted to refuse permission for the store on the Bath Road Trading Estate in Dudbridge after concerns were raised about the impact on town centres in Stroud, Nailsworth and Stonehouse, as well as traffic issues.

After a heated debate at Stroud District Council’s development control committee this afternoon, councillors voted to support a motion by Cllr Dave Mossman (Con, Hardwicke) to reject the supermarket by six to four.

Concerns were raised about the loss of employment on the trading estate, including the possible closure of engineering company SMP Sheet Metal, if businesses were forced to move to make way for Aldi.

Cllr John Marjoram (Green, Stroud Trinity) said: “The impact on Stroud, Nailsworth and Stonehouse will harm the vitality of those town centres. Footfall is already falling.

“A fishmonger told me he earns more money in Bath in two hours than in two days in Stroud. A greengrocer in Stonehouse told me if there are any further supermarkets he will probably have to shut.”

Cllr Marjoram said he’d like to see the land used for engineering instead of an Aldi.

Cllr Mossman said an Aldi would have a negative effect on town centres and contradict SDC’s newly-adopted Local Plan, which sets out development sites in the district up to 2031.

“This is the first retail development that has come along since [the plan] was enforced and to start watering it down would be crazy”, he told the meeting.

The decision is a blow to many who wanted the budget supermarket in the area.

Cllr Chris Brine (Lab, Stonehouse) argued that people would continue to shop at independent stores and that Aldi would only take trade away from other supermarkets.

Dan Templeton said the new supermarket could create up to 250 new jobs, adding: “There is no discount store in Stroud. The majority of people have said they want it to go ahead.”

Arguments against the supermarket were put forward by Cllr Paul Gibson, of Rodborough Parish Council, who said they favoured the rival planning application for a supermarket and housing site at the nearby Daniels Estate.

Representatives from Stonehouse and Nailsworth Town Councils said they feared the supermarket would adversely affect trade in the towns.

Tony Allsop, from the Rodborough Road Safety Group, said the supermarket would exasperate traffic issues.

Lesley Tozer, of SMP Sheet Metal, which was told to relocate this month if the Aldi went ahead, also spoke against the plans.