Kells looks to Aldi to give business a boost

The impending opening of the new Aldi store in Kells will bring welcome business to the town, according to local representatives. The German discount supermarket will open its new Cavan Road store at 9am on Thursday 24th September, following a lengthy planning process to build in the town. "This is a big boost to Kells. We now have three supermarkets in the town and Kells is restored to its position as a proud market town," said Cllr Brian Collins. "Kells will be very competitive to people, who in this day and age want the best price and when people come into Kells to do their weekly shopping, they will stay and do the rest of their business here, too," he predicted. He regretted the disruption caused during the construction of the new supermarket, but said it would now be a big boost to the area. Cllr Bryan Reilly complimented all those involved in ensuring the supermarket chain came to Kells. "It has to be welcomed. I hope it will be good for the town and bring custom in, The businesses here in Kells could do with the extra support," he said. Aldi got the green light to proceed with the development in July of last year following the rejection of an appeal to Bord Pleanála against the proposed retail park for the area, which includes the Aldi store. Emdan Developments, a McKeon Group company, is the main contractor for the 8.5 acre Kells Retail Park site, which includes Aldi. Meanwhile Meath County Council is seeking further information on Aldi's plans for a supermarket at Brews Hill in Navan. Aldi has applied for permission for a 1,541sq metre single storey discount foodstore on part of the Navan O'Mahony's GFC site at Brews Hill. A previous application for an Aldi store at Navan's new retail park at Knockumber was refused by Meath County Council and this decision was upheld by Bord Pleanala. Meanwhile, at a recent meeting of Trim Town Council, councillors heard that Aldi had also plans for a site at Longwood Road, Trim, but no application had been received. If it were to go ahead, this would require a variation or material contravention of the town's development plan.