New Aldi for Kells supermarket cache

KELLS"S long-awaited supermarket competition is set to arrive on Cavan Road, following the rejection of an appeal to Bord Pleanála against the proposed retail park including an Aldi store near the planned N52 bypass. The lengthy planning procedure began when the German retailer first applied for approval but withdrew its application following some difficulties. Subsequently the rival German retailer Lidl applied for permission for a supermarket on a site nearer the town on the Cavan road but was turned down at both council and Bord Pleanála levels, principally for the limitations of the site and the traffic problems likely to arise on the N3. The Aldi go-ahead comes just months after Kells SuperValu officially opened its new store at the Circular Road/Fair Green. Town councillors expressed their support for the Aldi proposal when it was first mooted and local developer Mícheál McKeon brought a revised plan for the retail park to the county council, following which his approval was appealed by some local residents and landowners. Mr McKeon confirmed that Emdan Developments, a McKeon Group company, would be the main contractor for the 8.5 acre Kells Retail Park site, for which Aldi had been secured. Work would start very soon and he expected the Aldi store to open six months later. 'I"m delighted the people of Kells will now have their own Retail Park and I"m already in talks with other high profile outlets about it', said Mr McKeon. Emdan Developments has completed several projects locally in recent years, including the McKeon Motors Showrooms, the refurbishment of the Town Hall and is currently main contractor on the Headfort Grove refurbishment scheme. The Aldi go-ahead was warmly welcomed last weekend by town council Cathaoirleach Brian Collins, himself a resident on the Cavan Road. It represented a major boost to the town and would reverse the 'retail bleed' north Meath had suffered over the years, losing business to other towns, he said. The town would now have three supermarkets, all with parking, which he believed would attract even more business. The 2010 completion of the M3 and significant expansion of the town centre meant Kells was well on its way to becoming a major market town, added Cllr Collins. It was a confident town which was open for business. He congratulated Mr McKeon for his courage and perseverence with the Aldi project, describing the Bective Street businessman as 'a very positive influence'. Mícheál"s leadership had already transformed Bective Street and he was bound to lead the Aldi project to similar success, said the Cathaoirleach.