By Harry Mottram: Reading the comments on the application of a retail store on Upper New Road which close on Monday 15 December 2025, there is an obvious split between those who want it to open and those who don’t. The main concerns of those who oppose the plans are on the practical aspects of adding a supermarket to an already busy road which can be gridlocked during the school run and other times. With roadworks and sets of lights regularly installed on the A371 between the turning to Axbridge and St Andrews Church in Cheddar many will have often wondered if it would be quicker to get out and walk.
The plans for Lidl (17/25/00051/GNN) on the Somerset Council planning portal show the layout of the proposed store and its car parking – but shows no sign of a pavement or cycle path access. There is a pavement on the opposite side of the road but without a pedestrian crossing – and from the Axbridge side – a pedestrian crossing further up at the junction with Shipham Hill – it is a hazardous crossing on a busy day.
Back in September Cheddar Parish Council objected to the plans on the issue of pedestrian access but also on congestion and whether with Sainsbury’s, Tweentown and Tesco in the village there was a need for another grocery store. Many of the comments in favour of the supermarket cite the need for a cheaper food store as Lidl is generally seen to be at the budget end of grocers with some slating Sainsbury’s as ‘a rip-off’ shop. It should be said prices at shops do fluctuate and are adjusted for different areas and what competition. Most who were in favour liked the idea of a shorter drive compared to a trip to Sainsbury’s or further afield to Budgens in Churchill or Asda in Highbridge.
Now the application has closed technically a decision could be made almost immediately with Lidl hoping (and perhaps expecting) for a green light. There has already been according to some reports of preparatory works on the site – which would necessitate the demolition of the house which stands on the land. Now it is up to the planners – but if they do agree with perhaps some modifications then the area could see the super market opened in 2027. Which is when just up the road Bristol Water could begin building their new access road to the reservoir. It would appear the valley is set for massive new developments in the next 24 months – and I’ve not even mentioned the plans at the old Yeo Valley site just yards away also off the A371.
For the record Lidl is a private grocery chain based in Germany dating back to the 1930s although it wasn’t until 1994 that the firm opened its first shop in the UK. In the 1970s the company began to focus on discounting – some say they copied Aldi’s model – but that is contested – the point being the two rivals now dominate the small supermarket sector across Britain and Europe with thousands of stores. The store says it pays a minimum of £13 an hour and will be recruiting new staff – and offer benefits including enhanced holiday entitlement, life assurance and optional health and dental insurance. They add: “Lidl GB is the only discounter to offer a colleague discount in store and has the most competitive maternity pay package in the sector. Lidl does not operate zero hours contracts. All Lidl recruitment specifically targets our stores’ primary catchment areas (usually less than a five-minute drive from the store). This means that around 80% of the jobs will be filled locally, providing a real boost to the local economy.”
Don’t forget to check out what’s on in the town at https://www.harrymottram.co.uk/diary/
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Axbridge News is edited by Harry Mottram and is published for the interest of himself and fellow residents.
NOTE: Everything I write on Axbridge News is in the public domain – anyone can look up the information or ask the odd question. I just put it together so it makes sense to me.
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Email:harryfmottram@gmail.com
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