Aldi defends decision to appeal over controversial plan to extend Wollaston store onto children's play area
Supermarket giant Aldi has defended its decision to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate over its controversial proposal to extend its Wollaston store onto a children's play area - calling the council's original decision to refuse the scheme "disappointing".
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A plan to extend the Bridgnorth Road Aldi store onto The Dell Open Space was refused by Dudley Council's planning committee on January 17 after a raft of objections were submitted by residents concerned about the loss of community land for children to play on and locals to enjoy.
Wollaston councillor Andrew Tromans (Liberal Democrat) said at the time the battle but not the war had been won as villagers celebrated triumph in a David-and-Goliath style fight to keep their much-valued community space.
Fears, however, remained that supermarket bosses would appeal against the local decision.
And a plan has since been lodged with the Government's Planning Inspectorate against the council's refusal of the scheme, which Aldi says is necessary to improve its offering in the village by allowing its product ranges to be stocked in greater depth.
