Poll reveals overwhelming support for Aldi coming to Stroud

More than 300 people took part in an online ballot on the SNJ website – of which a staggering 82 per cent said they were in favour of a store on the Bath Road Trading Estate in Dudbridge.

Only 14 per cent voted against, with the remainder not taking a view either way.

The SNJ conducted the poll after last week’s narrow vote to refuse planning permission for the discount supermarket.

This week, Aldi said it was “disappointed” by the decision – and hinted that bosses were considering the possibility of an appeal.

A spokesman said: “We are very disappointed with last week’s decision and know many local people are too. We are now considering our options.”

Members of Stroud District Council’s development control committee voted against their own officers’ advice and threw out the application by six to four.

Fears were expressed that the supermarket would harm trade in town centres, displace businesses and cause traffic problems.

Aldi’s disappointment was clearly reflected in the community, with hundreds of people taking to social media to criticise the decision.

Shopper Tracey Evans said: “I wanted Aldi to come to Stroud and I hope they appeal. If they do we should all attend the meeting and show them what we want.”

Caron Hadland commented: “I thought it would be ideal for those locally and those on a low income. Wrong decision.”

Jerry Marsden said: “Aldi is way better than the rest cost wise and product wise. Stroud councillors got it wrong yet again not listening to what people want and need.”

Stroud resident Claire Beavis said: “Once again the council have not taken the public in to account in their decision.

"I bet they would say yes to another restaurant, take away or coffee shop in the centre.”

Others have called for the German giant to appeal the decision to the planning inspectorate.

Adrian Wakefield said: “No point living in Stroud. No vision. Backward thinking. I hope Aldi appeal the decision.”

Tracey Evans said: “I wanted it to come to Stroud, I hope they appeal. If they do we should all go to the meeting this time and show them what we want.”

However, many others defended the councillor’s decision, saying it was taken to protect the town centres like Stroud, Nailsworth and Stonehouse.

They argued the Aldi application would have saturated Stroud with another supermarket, forced out existing businesses on site, fly in the face of the council’s own local plan and cause serious problems for traffic along an already busy Bath Road.

Stroud town Mayor Kevin Cranston said: “I don't know anyone who wants an Aldi or indeed any more supermarkets.

“There are at least six in Stroud, Stonehouse and Nailsworth and they cater for all price ranges.

“Surely that is enough for anyone. I don't think many of the town centre traders wanted another supermarket of any sort either.”

Ross Millward said: “Good. Way too many supermarkets for a small town. Focus on the town centre regeneration.”

Anna Katherine said: “Would love an Aldi, Lidl or the likes to come to Stroud but not on that site.

“That site is the home to many skilled workers, lots of employees and local businesses.

“These businesses have a knock on impact on the local economy and employment. Many would have been turfed out with minimal notice and limited choice of where to relocate, if of course they could sustain that.

“There are plenty of other sites, in and around Stroud, some of which have been empty for years. We need SDC, Aldi/Lidl to sort it out and push through for a more suitable site.”

Matt Smart said: “It was completely the wrong site for a new Aldi in Stroud, skilled jobs lost to be replaced with unskilled jobs.”

Meanwhile, the decision to deny Aldi has boosted the hopes of a rival developer who wants to bring another ‘discount’ supermarket to Stroud.

Paul Fong, managing director at Hunter Page Planning, said district councillors had helped uphold Stroud district’s Local Plan blueprint and demonstrated its commitment to protecting local businesses.

His company has submitted a rival application for an unspecified ‘budget supermarket’, 50 houses and a ‘Costa or Starbucks’ type coffee thrive-thru at the Daniels Industrial Estate – just 100 metres from the proposed Aldi site.

Some 315 readers took part in our poll – 257 wanted Aldi, 44 were against and 14 didn’t mind.