Objections to plans for new Mayo Lidl supermarket

PLANS by Lidl to construct a supermarket at Kilcolman Road in Claremorris have been the subject of a number of submissions to Mayo County Council.

Primarily, the submissions suggest that a better site is available closer to the town centre, at Chapel Lane. In 2018, the council gave planning for a discount retail store at this location.

One said of the Kilcolman Road proposal: "This site is totally removed from the town centre and by locating it at this site it will damage the town centre in the long term.

"While I welcome Lidl to Claremorris, it is vital that the integrity of the town centre is protected in line with guidelines introduced in 2012 regarding development of town centres."

Another submission added: "Allowing Lidl to set up alongside them (Tesco and Aldi) will pull even more shoppers even further away from the town centre, leading to further closures and job losses, and greater hollowing out, contrary to public policy and good planning.

"I would urge the planning authority to apply the approach that has been taken in Ballina, where Dunnes Stores and Tesco were brought into the town core and kept there.

"If Mayo County Council wishes to facilitate Lidl, it should direct the company to the six-acre site at Chapel Lane, which is big enough for the firm's needs, near enough to the town centre to boost rather than throttle small business, and close enough to the N17 to be highly visible to traffic on it."