Approving Lidl’s plans for Alexandria “will be remembered as the day Labour signed the death warrant” for the town – after councillors agreed to slash the car park’s time limit to just 90 minutes.
The long-awaited proposals were given the green light last week but SNP councillor Ian Dickson slammed the administration for agreeing to cut the time shoppers can park at the new supermarket at the meeting.
It follows concerns raised by residents and community group the Vale of Leven Trust that the development won’t help struggling businesses in the Vale.
It was understood that shoppers would be allowed to park for up to two hours – but Lidl now say that this was a mistake and it would only be for 90 minutes.
Lidl confirmed it had made an “error” in its application of asking for a two-hour parking limit – but insisted all conversations agreed to 90 minutes.
Councillor Dickson fumed: “Town centre shoppers have just lost access to the biggest car park in Alexandria.
“In an unfathomable move, Labour’s Clydebank-based planning convenor (Councillor Lawrence O’Neill) knocked the parking restriction down to 90 minutes from the two hours on the report.
“June 14 2023 will be remembered as the day Labour signed the death warrant for Alexandria town centre.
“This was our chance to fix decades-old planning mistakes in the town centre, but instead, what was pushed through rings a death toll across our area.
“Objections and appeals from local traders, local councillors, the Community Council and the Vale of Leven Trust were completely ignored as Lidl were given everything they could have asked for and then some more.
“This large, council-owned multi-million-pound town centre site is being signed over to a multi-billion-pound supermarket operator, for nothing.”
There’s also concerns the plans will cut off Church Street from Bank Street for motorists, whilst a social housing element was scrapped last year.
He added: “The community benefit was supposed to be that Lidl had social houses built for WDC or a Housing Association to run, but they were already let off the hook for that by Labour.
“Residents, the local taxi trade and local councillors past and present have all been very clear that blocking up Church street will be a disaster, forcing a significant volume of cars and HGVs onto Main Street via the three-way junction at the fountain.
“The new Lidl junction also misses the roundabout entirely and effectively creates a one-way system with traffic leaving Lidl funnelled up onto Bank Street which will see half those vehicles turning in the road or spinning around in junctions at the doctors’ surgery or the Paint Pot, creating congestion and pollution in the town centre.
“This whole thing has turned a regeneration opportunity into a disaster for local traders and shoppers, and I for one won’t forget the administration who allowed this shameful travesty to occur.”
The German supermarket giant has been targeting a move to the Vale for almost a decade, with proposals taking a major step forward last year as it formally applied for planning permission.
Those plans were approved last week, with the new store set to feature a 1,251m sales area “that represents a multi-million pound investment” according to chiefs.
It will create around 40 new jobs and would also feature facilities including an instore bakery.
Labour’s Michelle McGinty says the plans would help restore Alexandria to its former glory - after a “heartbreaking” decline.
She said: “Like everyone else who lives and shops locally in Alexandria I am keen to see the demolition of Mitchell Way and the regeneration of our area.
“This decision allows those plans to progress at last and Alexandria finally getting some much-needed investment.
“It has been heartbreaking to see the steady decline of our town centre over the years and I hope that this is the springboard to make it the heart of our community once more.”
Whilst Community Party councillor Jim Bollan added: “I supported the application in principle but I am extremely disappointed the committee did not insist the orientation of the building was reversed to ensure the main entrance and exit was directly opposite Mitchell Way to encourage footfall leakage to visit some of the small specialised family shops in the town centre.
“We insist that the third phase of Levelling Up capital investment from Westminster must be spent in Alexandria town centre, given that Dumbarton has already had £22m allocated, and having the Lidl store located correctly would have assisted the ongoing regeneration of the area.”
A spokesperson for Lidl clarified: “We submitted the application but we are aware there was an error.
“Through all of our conversations, it was agreed it was 90 minutes.
“It has always been a requirement for the store to have that time limit on the car park.”
