By Harry Mottram: A few years ago while working as a reporter at the Cheddar Valley Gazette I ran a story under the occasional heading of ‘supermarket wars’. Both Tesco and Sainsbury’s were in a battle to grab the retail opportunities in Cheddar. Tesco had their eyes on land to the east of the town while Sainsbury’s fancied a plot off the Wedmore Road. A shift in shopping habits in the end led them to change track as super stores fell out of fashion – Tesco took on the store by Kings of Wessex and Sainsbury’s bought the Budgen’s site. Now it appears there could be a new retail war on the horizon.
Lidl look to expand
The Cooperative store in Axbridge, along with grocery stores locally could have some competition if Lidl supermarkets get their way and build a store on Upper New Road. The chain has announced they plan to open new stores across the country with one earmarked for Cheddar – which is essentially half-way between the village and Axbridge. As you travel up Upper New Road it would be in the field with the ruined caravan and incomplete house development where Christmas trees are sometimes sold on the left.
Lidl announced earlier this year: “Lidl GB has today announced plans to invest half a billion pounds in its expansion, as the discounter moves forward with plans to open more than 40 new stores across the country this financial year.”
Local stores could see some more competition – the Cooperative in Axbridge, Tween Town’s Total Energy fuel store, Crossroads fuel station store, Tesco and Sainsbury’s in Cheddar and not forgetting Hansfords in Shipham. Since establishing itself in Great Britain in 1994, Lidl GB has over 35,000 employees, over 980 stores and 14 distribution centres in England, Scotland and Wales and is part of the Schwarz retail group in Germany.
With so much new housing going up in both Cheddar and Axbridge it was only a matter of time before another grocery chain come supermarket moved in. However, they will need planning permission and they say it is subject to feedback from locals – so no done deal yet.
Long weekend
This weekend sees two major social events in Axbridge with Fun Day on the Furlong Field on Saturday starting around noon and continuing into the evening, and the launch day of Axe Vale Arts on Sunday at the former Methodist Church/Chapel in West Street starting at 1pm. I say Church/Chapel as officially it was a church but called a chapel by its congregation.
The weather looks unsettled over the weekend but as so often the rain clouds don’t always materialise so hopefully it is set fair for live music and entertainment on the Furlong and more live music, poetry, drama and more at the newly created Axe Vale Arts Centre.
Moor house
A planning application has been put in for a new build property at the bottom of Moorland Street off Portmeade Drove. Application Number:02/25/00014 has seen the light of day before so this is a second attempt to gain permission. Opposite Moorland Farm the home would be two storeys with a garage and access over the rhyne by Axbridge Moor Drove.
There has been some comment previously on the application with concerns the views from Bailiff’s Close would be affected. The issue of flooding is addressed in the planning documents to be found on the planning site – and comments are open until 17 July on the planning portal.
Axbridge Review is edited by Harry Mottram and is published for the interest of himself and fellow residents.
Harry is a freelance journalist. Follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Blue Sky, YouTube etc
Email:harryfmottram@gmail.com
Website:www.harrymottram.co.uk
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