The bitter battle for Rye’s lucrative grocery trade continues with consultants acting for Jempson’s Supermarkets lodging further objections to Aldi’s food store project.
Two documents, written in mid-November, press home arguments already made by the same consultants, or complain that Aldi has failed to answer previous objections.
These latest comments lodged with Rother District Council (RDC) last week follow the project’s recent approval by the Environment Agency.
The main obstacle facing Aldi is an upcoming decision by National Highways on whether to approve the proposed road access arrangements to the site off Winchelsea Road. Opponents of Aldi’s project argue that turning into the supermarket from the eastern A259 approach would create traffic congestion on this busy highway.
Jempson’s consultant Exigo Project Solutions is continuing to argue for a “ghost island right turn lane” on the A259 while safe in the knowledge that Aldi has already rejected the idea.
Aldi continues to play its cards close to its chest, although with a deadline at the end of January looming it’s logical to assume the German firm’s transport advisers, Connect Consultants, are beating a path to National Highways’ door to find out exactly what’s needed to gain approval.
In a move that could be seen by Aldi as a delaying tactic, Jempson’s consultant Peacock and Smith is now suggesting that RDC consider appointing an “independent retail planning consultant” to review the pros and cons of the project. This move would seem to add another layer of complexity to an already highly convoluted planning proposal.
There also appears to be confusion regarding the potential impact of Aldi on Jempson’s business. The incumbent operator claims it would strip 31% from its Rye store turnover by 2027, bringing into question its “continued viability”. However, Jempson’s have not released its actual turnover figures and its consultant limits itself to saying that Jempson’s central Rye store “is trading significantly below the levels suggested by AY” [Aldi’s consultant].
Given the project’s nature and the high stakes for Jempson’s, Aldi and the people of Rye, Rother District Council’s planning team have an unenviable task deciding this supermarket proposal.
Image Credits: Nick Forman .