Aldi store plans endorsed by Moate community group
Moate Community Development Association has strongly endorsed plans by German discounter, Aldi, to build a new €6.8m store in the town, and has urged Westmeath County Council to give the project its “full support and cooperation”.
In a submission to the local authority on the planning application, the local development association said it had “frequently expressed a wish” for Aldi to consider opening a store in Moate, and described news of the proposed new supermarket on a portion of the former Roseland Ballroom site as “a very positive development” for the town.
While acknowledging the presence of SuperValu on Main Street in the town, the submission pointed out that the lack of off street parking at SuperValu makes it “quite difficult” for shoppers to access the store, especially those who are planning to do their weekly shopping.
“Many choose to shop in Athlone for this reason,” the submission said, adding that the local community development group shares “a great sense of joy” at the news that Aldi has now made an application for planning permission to construct a food outlet to the west of Moate .
The voluntary organisation which oversees the operation of Tuar Ard Arts and Enterprise Centre, describes itself in the submission to Westmeath County Council as having “a strong representative voice” for Moate in view of the fact that it has been “at the heart of the community for so long”.
The submission also noted that Moate is a “vibrant and growing town” with a population of almost 2,800 and a hinterland population of 10,000 and has benefitted from the Dún na Sí Amenity and Heritage Park; the Old Rail Trail Greenway, and the Tuar Ard Arts and Enterprise Centre.
“Despite all that Moate has to offer, our organisation feels that the town is in desperate need of a quality supermarket with adequate parking space,” the group stated.
The submission from Moate Community Development Association is one of two received by Westmeath County Council during the five-week public consultation period, with the second submission coming from Jimmy and Ger Redmond, Hall Road.
While welcoming the development of the vacant site on the Athlone road, the second submission requestd the council to put procedures in place to limit night-time deliveries by large lorries in an effort to maintain the peace and quiet of residential areas, particularly for elderly residents; that the car park be locked at night to discourage loitering and anti-social behaviour and that a large boundary wall with the addition of mature trees be installed on the site to protect the privacy of the the Redmonds, whose home on the Hall Road is built “on a height to the site” of the proposed supermarket and would be overlooked by motorists parking in the car park.
Aldi submitted plans to Westmeath County Council last month for a new €6.8m store in Moate, on a site on the Athlone Road, a move which could create 30 new jobs in the town.
The new facility will cover an area of 1,315 square metres, and is due to open in the autumn of 2025 with the creation of up to 30 jobs in the town after opening and the creation of up to 50 jobs during the construction phase.
Westmeath County Council is due to make a decision on the planning application by August 9 next.