Aldi asks councillors to drop pelican crossing requirement for new Llay supermarket

Supermarket giant Aldi has asked councillors to drop a requirement for a pelican crossing to be created outside a new store in Wrexham.

Wrexham Council’s planning committee granted permission for a supermarket to be built at the corner of Gresford Road and the Straight Mile in Llay during a meeting in December.

Their approval was given despite a community leader raising fears over the impact on traffic in the village, with 362 homes currently being constructed next to the site.

Members did make one change to the planning conditions suggested by officers by asking for a pelican crossing to be installed near the store instead of a zebra crossing to ensure the safety of children.

However, the discount food retailer now wants them to reverse that decision after claiming a controlled pedestrian crossing would be less safe.

The local authority’s chief planning officer has recommended that the committee should agree to revert to the original requirement.

In a report, Lawrence Isted said: “The evidence provided demonstrates potential problems with traffic backing up to the Crown crossroads and a zebra crossing would be more appropriate in this location.

“Whilst cost is not a material planning consideration we have to be mindful that the highway authority did not object to a zebra crossing.

“The key point is whether refusal of this application could be justified without a signalised crossing but with a zebra crossing as proposed.

“The evidence indicates that a zebra crossing is the safest and most appropriate solution for this site.”

The company had previously welcomed the committee’s decision to grant permission for the plans.

Aldi said the scheme would create up to 40 new jobs with 114 people voicing their support ahead of the meeting.

However, Mr Isted revealed that representatives for the chain approached the council after it was held to ask officers not to issue a decision notice and to take the proposals back to the committee.

During the planning meeting, Llay councillor Rob Walsh acknowledged that the plans were popular with the local community but said it could lead to traffic problems.

He said: “My only concern with this has been with the highways because those members who have been on the committee for a long time will be very familiar with this junction. It is very congested junction.

“I do know that some residents who live opposite are concerned about the potential increase in queuing, because it is very close to a residential area and my concern is whether they’ll be able to simply get out of their driveways.

“If there’s a lot queuing to go into Aldi then it’s going to impact on their daily lives.”

Despite his comments, most members were broadly supportive of the scheme.

They will be asked to reinstate the requirement for a zebra crossing instead of a pelican crossing when they meet on Monday (January 4, 2020).

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter