Trim to get new Aldi store if plans approved

A planning application for the construction of an Aldi supermarket in Trim has been welcomed by two local councillors. The planning application notice from South-West Partnership to Meath County Council appeared in last week's issue of the Meath Chronicle and proposed a development at a 1.945 hectare site at Longwood Road and Summerhill Road, Trim. The proposed development consists of the construction of a mixed use development with a total floor area of 4,826 sq ft over three blocks, including a single-storey discount foodstore (including an off-licence) totalling 1,476 sq ft, which would include a sales floor, ancillary storage and staff areas. The two other blocks are proposed as a double-height motor showroom and an L-shaped two-storey retail building comprised of four units. As there is already a Lidl store in Trim, it had been widely rumoured for some time that the development would see an Aldi come to the town. Managing director of South-West Partnership, Stephen Garvey, this week confirmed that the application was for a new Aldi store which he was hopeful "this time to be successful after withdrawing the last one". The proposed Aldi will have a "new-look, deatailed stone facade" in line with planners' requests to have it more befitting a heritage town. "We should find out in six to seven weeks' time, but it is up to the planners now," said Mr Garvey. "We've scaled it down from the last application a small bit. That application actually had 2,500 signatures of a petition on it in support and we have a deal agreed with Trim Celtic supporting an upgrade in their facilities. "We're hopeful this time that it'll be successful but it's in their (Meath County Council planning department) hands now." Trim Town Councillor Ronan McKenna said he would welcome Aldi to the town, should it be the discount store in question. "I would totally support Aldi coming to Trim, if it were to be them. The deal agreed with the developers involved a community gain in which Trim Celtic would receive financial support. At the moment, the club is spending €50,000 a year on rent and other commitments and that is not sustainable. "It's not a sustainable agreement either to say that it would take jobs from the town when they are obviously going to have to employ staff. There would be spin-off jobs in construction and then in logistics and local supppliers," he added. Cllr McKenna, who is a member of Trim Celtic development committee and has South-West Partnership as one of his auctioneer clients, said that people going out of the town to Navan and Blanchardstown for discount stores like Aldi are taking money away from the smaller shops when they travel in search of some shopping variation and believes Aldi would be a "great benefit" to the town. Trim area councillor Jimmy Fegan believes more competition also would be a good thing for the town. "It brings competition, which can only be good for the town and will be of great benefit to Trim Celtic," said Cllr Fegan. "There might be an element of opposition to it regarding jobs, some people might feel that the jobs in the town centre would be under threat, but I just don't see that happening with a discount store," he said.