Councillors have won last minute gains with the supermarket chain behind a controversial village centre development in the Colne Valley.

An Aldi spokesperson said that bosses have agreed to accept all of the requests made by Kirklees Council concerning their delivery plan to the new Slaithwaite site, after concerns over congestion and public safety were raised by Clr Nicola Turner in the Examiner.

Clr Turner said she had had a ‘constructive meeting’ with representatives from the store after she met them with highways officers and other councillors to discuss the service delivery plans, which are a requirement of planning permission.

The planning conditions had caused consternation after they were drafted up by council officers after the planning committee voted to allow the development in January.

She had been worried that certain aspects, such as the stopping of traffic on Britannia Road when a delivery lorry reached the exit at Manchester Road and the use of large lorries would cause ‘traffic chaos’ and believed that they should have been discussed in a public forum. Following the meeting Aldi have agreed to scrap plans to use cones to block Britannia Road when a food delivery and will not stop traffic until the lorry has driven down the road to the site entrance.

This is on top of ensuring that two workers are present to navigate traffic at delivery times and using smaller vehicles ‘wherever possible.’

Give way markings will also be painted on the Aldi side of the site entrance, to warn lorry drivers before they attempt to exit.

Nicola said: “I’m much happier with these new conditions.

“People will be able to drive down the road until the wagon is at the site entrance, rather than much higher up the road.

“This will reduce the potential for causing traffic jams on Manchester Road as well.

“It’s the best of a bad job and these changes will mean that it has a less detrimental effect on Slaithwaite.

“I still have concerns and will keep pushing for the creation of a link road that will remove the need for the lorries to come through the centre.”

Work to construct the 12,100 square foot store commenced in late March by Dransfield Properties and it is expected to open before this Christmas.

An Aldi spokesperson said: “Local members had discussed their concerns with officers in advance of the meeting and all of the requests made by the council concerning banksmen, signage, cones and timings have been accepted by Aldi.

“Where possible, smaller vehicles will be considered for delivering at peak traffic times.”

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