CHARD Town Council has given its backing to a new 1,325-square metre Lidl store with more than 100 parking spaces.

The application, which would see the supermarket chain demolish a series of buildings on the Brecknell Willis site in Tapstone Road before building the new store and parking area, was discussed by the town council's planning committee tonight (Monday, November 20).

The council also recommended approval for a second application which will see them build a small car park exclusively for Brecknell Willis use.

If approved by South Somerset District Council, the new Lidl site will include 114 car parking spaces for customers.

At the start of the meeting, a short presentation was given on behalf of the applicants by Ed Kelmsley, director at Peacock & Smith.

Mr Kelmsley said: "Highways have expressed concerns but we are confident we can address these by Friday once additional information has been collected.

"This application would remove redundant buildings, and constitutes a significant investment in Chard. The new store will create 40 full time jobs as well as a significant number during construction."

Mr Kelmsley said that a there have been discussions with a 'non-food retailer' regarding the existing Lidl store in the town centre.

However Cllr Amanda Broom, speaking as a member of the public, said she would be objecting to the application.

"I worry about the effect the loss of footfall will have on existing businesses in Chard's town centre. Chard has waited many years for regeneration to begin. We should be engaging large retailers to stay in the town centre," she added.

However Cllr Dave Bulmer spoke in favour of the application, saying it was a 'win-win' situation for Chard.

"I believe the applicants have looked at other sites but have genuinely found that no town centre sites can handle a store of this size.

"We have heard that a retail operator is already interested in the existing store so I think it is a win-win situation."

Cllr Bulmer also commented that there should be a condition to make the car park secure, following a statement from a member of the public who pointed out about the problems with 'boy racers' using the existing Tesco car park.

Both applications received a unanimous vote in favour of recommending for approval.

The car park has capacity for 114 vehicles, including 6 accessible parking bays and seven parent and child bays.

Brecknell Willis is a specialist in the field of electrification/traction for all types of transportation systems including tramways, metros and railways. Henry Brecknell and Sons began trading in 1854 and the company has been operating from Chard since 1938.

In 2015 they completed the construction of a new purpose-built factory.
Following the building of this new facility there are elements of the site which are now surplus to the requirements of the company, in particular the land and buildings subject of the new planning application.

The overall site is around 3.2 acres (1.27 hectares). The area for the Lidl and its associated car parking area is approximately 2.37 acres (0.95 hectares), leaving a further 0.8 acres (0.33 hectares) for the car park to be associated with Brecknell Willis.