Ministers throw out Biggar Aldi plan

Jul 3 2008 by George Topp, Lanark & Carluke

A SLOGAN adopted by a Clydesdale town has proved well short of the mark for a German supermarket chain.

‘London’s Big but Biggar’s Biggar’ is a slogan still linked to the Upperward market town.

But, according to the Scottish Government, Biggar - with a population of under 2500 - is just not big enough.

That is one of the reasons Ministers have used for throwing out a planning application for an Aldi supermarket in the town.

Aldi have been fighting a strong campaign to open a store in Biggar for more than a year.

However, they failed to sway South Lanarkshire councillors who rejected the proposals for a site in Market Road, close to the town’s existing Co-op supermarket.

Undeterred Aldi appealed that decision to the Scottish Government – and put forward a strong case for the new store at a subsequent public inquiry.

It was not a strong enough case, though, since the inquiry reporter has backed South Lanarkshire Council and said “no” to Aldi.

And that decision has been greeted with delight by local businesses, councillors and residents.

Their fears were that a big new store would dilute the market town’s traditional High Street, with its wide range of shops.

Businesses would close, jobs would be lost and people living in the area would end up with a smaller choice when they shopped.

At the inquiry in May, Aldi claimed people would drive for 15 minutes to their store; a catchment area which would include Carnwath.

However, a survey carried out by South Lanarkshire Council showed that only one per cent of those surveyed would use Biggar for supermarket shopping.

In their evidence, Biggar Business Group produced evidence to show that if the store were approved then Biggar would be the smallest town in the UK with an Aldi store.

Aldi claimed their new store would stop people travelling to Lanark for shopping, making life easier for locals and reducing the area’s carbon footprint.

But the inquiry reporter felt the company’s claim of reducing the numbers shopping outside Biggar by 66 per cent was “optimistic.”

He also agreed with Biggar Business Group’s claims that existing businesses would expect to see a 22 per cent drop in income, and a resulting closure of shops.

And he supported the view of local people that Biggar was well-served by existing shops.

The potential risk to the town’s existing trade from a new Aldi was too great, he said.

Shoppers and businesses in the town this week welcomed the reporter’s decision as ‘common sense,’ although they admit to being surprised that the German firm have promised to fight on.

David Grant, ALDI property director, said: “We are extremely disappointed our appeal against South Lanarkshire Council’s decision to refuse our planning application to open a store in Market Road, Biggar, has been rejected.

“Our lawyers are currently studying the reporter’s verdict and we will make a decision shortly as to how to progress.

“We are particularly disappointed for hundreds of local residents who took the time and effort to support ALDI’s plan to open a store in the town.

“They can rest assured we are fully committed to bringing the Aldi retail offer to Biggar and will redouble our efforts to find a suitable site on which to build a store to serve the town.”

But councillor Hamish Stewart, a former shop keeper in the town, is pleased with the decision.

“It is the right decision for Biggar. In the long term, Aldi would have taken trade away from other shops, something which could result in closures, and people would end up with less choice for shopping,” he said.

He felt that the threat to existing shops from the supermarket giant would have resulted in closures and job losses far greater than the small number promised by Aldi.

“I’m pleased with this result and I think the majority of local people will be too,” headded.

Aldi’s promise to find an alternative, suitable site has also puzzled the town’s business community, who this week pointed out that the Market Road site was the only area of land in Biggar zoned for industrial use.

All other areas were earmarked for housing or green belt and, in light of the Reporter’s decision, it was unlikely that Aldi would manage to have these areas rezoned.