Has Aldi pulled the plug on plans to open Benfleet store? (From Echo)
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Has Aldi pulled the plug on plans to open Benfleet store?
1:00pm Thursday 3rd January 2013 in Local News
Focus closed its doors in Benfleet in June 2011
HOPES for a discount supermarket chain to take over a former DIY store that has stood empty for 18 months could be fading.
It has been rumoured Aldi has pulled out of a deal that would have seen it open a new store at the Focus site, in Rushbottom Lane, Benfleet, which closed in June 2011.
The chain may invest in its new Pitsea store instead to tie in with the planned regeneration project in the town, it has been claimed.
As part of the £30million masterplan a new Aldi branch will be built on the site of the former Co-op and part of the current Pitsea Market, replacing the existing Aldi, in Rectory Park Drive.
Focus closed its doors after the nationwide DIY firm went into administration, resulting in 23 job losses at the Benfleet branch.
Although Aldi has not confirmed its intentions yet, traders and councillors have hinted at their disappointment if it turns out to be true.
Sailesh Patel, owner of Cross Pharmacy, in London Road, said: “We need something there to draw the people in, it’s disappointing to hear from a business point of view.
“It would be nice to have someone in there as it’s been empty for some time now so I would be concerned if it’s true, but without confirming whether they have pulled out or not we wouldn’t be able to comment.”
Norman Smith, Castle Point Council’s cabinet member for economic regeneration, said the council had helped to facilitate negotiations between the freeholder and Aldi, but he had not heard the supermarket was definitely going to move into Rushbottom Lane.
He added: “I would be delighted to see a store go there, it would help to regenerate that whole area.
“I would like to see something back there now, jobs would be created plus a store would come back into use so I’m disappointed the potential user has to pull away if that the case, but I’ve not had confirmation of that myself.”
A spokeswoman for Aldi could not confirm or deny the claims.
Comments(12)
Kathystew23
says...
1:30pm Thu 3 Jan 13
GrumpyofLeigh
says...
6:15pm Thu 3 Jan 13
We've got one (smug, smiley face).
Lindy51
says...
6:17pm Thu 3 Jan 13
Kathystew23 wrote:Thats fine if you have John Lewis and Waitrose money.
Rather than another cheap and nasty store, why can't we have a John Lewis/waitrose store.
emcee
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8:56pm Thu 3 Jan 13
Kathystew23 wrote:Nothing wrong with Aldi (or Lidl). They may be cheap but not necessarily nasty. In fact the quality of a lot of their products knocks the socks of the named brands and grinds the other supermarket own brands (including Waitrose's massively over-priced products) into the ground.
Rather than another cheap and nasty store, why can't we have a John Lewis/waitrose store.
Kathystew23
says...
9:02pm Thu 3 Jan 13
emcee wrote:It isn't just the quality of food, it the quality of service. In the 19 years that I have lived at Tarpots, I have seen the area deteriorate, it's full of take aways and restaurants and food stores that stock a limited array of items. The area needs the right level of investment to improve the community.
Kathystew23 wrote:Nothing wrong with Aldi (or Lidl). They may be cheap but not necessarily nasty. In fact the quality of a lot of their products knocks the socks of the named brands and grinds the other supermarket own brands (including Waitrose's massively over-priced products) into the ground.
Rather than another cheap and nasty store, why can't we have a John Lewis/waitrose store.
Brunning999
says...
1:41am Fri 4 Jan 13
GrumpyofLeigh wrote:Do you mean the nice part of Leigh or the part where the Victorians built rows and rows of squashed terraced properties with no garages, driveways or front gardens, which now house multi occupant dwellers who pay high prices to live in a totally over congested area with inadequate space to sufficiently bring up a young family without disturbing your neighbours who either live above or below you in a house made for one family that has been converted for the use of 3 or 4 families who's kids are restricted from living a normal life like the children of Benfleet when their best feeling of space is when the kids attend that Victorian built school with inadequate playing fields.
'Cos you live in Benfleet, Sweetheart, not Leigh.
We've got one (smug, smiley face).
Yes I get your point !
Carnabackable
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10:01am Fri 4 Jan 13
benfleetres
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10:15am Fri 4 Jan 13
What the hell is Norman Smith going on about? “I would be delighted to see a store go there, it would help to regenerate that whole area."
Within 1 mile of the Focus site are 3 Co-op's, a new Morrisons in Hadleigh and one on Canvey, 2 Tesco's including the largest in the South East. Of course an Aldi is exactly what Benfleet needs.
If the council members can see past their wallets, this area is perfect to create a centre to the soulless town which is has been created by successive councils. A coffee shop, a creche area, a landscaped garden area and local businesses are what's needed here to regenerate this area, not another bloody supermarket!
Jose El Mezclador
says...
10:29am Fri 4 Jan 13
GrumpyofLeigh wrote:Benfleet is far better than Leigh me ol' son
'Cos you live in Benfleet, Sweetheart, not Leigh. We've got one (smug, smiley face).
Leigh's full of either 2nd hand car dealers fuelled on Charlie or snobby expensive to run coffin dodgers
emcee
says...
4:02pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Kathystew23 wrote:Maybe the age of snobbery is dying. No point in having vast swathes of upper class establishments if there aren't enough snobs to cater for.
emcee wrote:It isn't just the quality of food, it the quality of service. In the 19 years that I have lived at Tarpots, I have seen the area deteriorate, it's full of take aways and restaurants and food stores that stock a limited array of items. The area needs the right level of investment to improve the community.
Kathystew23 wrote:Nothing wrong with Aldi (or Lidl). They may be cheap but not necessarily nasty. In fact the quality of a lot of their products knocks the socks of the named brands and grinds the other supermarket own brands (including Waitrose's massively over-priced products) into the ground.
Rather than another cheap and nasty store, why can't we have a John Lewis/waitrose store.
InTheKnowOk
says...
11:05am Thu 10 Jan 13
John T Pharro says...
1:07pm Thu 3 Jan 13