Wirral Council deal with Network Rail should give West Kirby Aldi the green light

Jun 23 2010 by Liam Murphy, Birkenhead News

WIRRAL Council is expected to do a deal with Network Rail to allow a supermarket in West Kirby to go ahead

Demolition work in preparation for a new Aldi on Bridge Road has already started after the company put together a complex series of land deals.

But Aldi hit a stumbling block when Network Rail refused to sell them a parcel of land because it is part of a highway embankment supporting Bridge Road, as it leads up to the bridge over the railway.

Last year, planners in Wirral had recommended the discount supermarket be allowed to go ahead, but the proposal prompted a flood of letters to the council, with one resident stating: “The Aldi brand is not needed by West Kirby’s population.”

However, the German-based company had said the influx of young families into West Kirby and its reasonably affluent population make it a perfect location for one of their supermarkets.

The site had previously housed a petrol station, garage and offices and an old cinema, and Aldi said it wanted to retain part of the mock Tudor frontage.

A report to the council’s ruling cabinet said: “Aldi is now ready to implement its planning permission and build the store.

“It has already demolished buildings on site.

“However, a difficulty has arisen in respect of the embankment.”