ALDI DECISION MEANS A “RAW DEAL” FOR BIRKDALE TRADING ESTATE TENANTS, SAYS CLLR SIMON SHAW.

Earlier this month Sefton Council’s Planning Committee granted permission to Aldi to develop their second store in Southport on the site of the Birkdale Trading Estate on Liverpool Road, between Richmond Road and St John’s Road.


As part of the decision Aldi have agreed to pay the Council £723,000 to provide replacement business unit floorspace at Southport Business Park, but it will be some years before this would be available.

However Birkdale Lib Dem councillor Simon Shaw, who has dealt with a number of businesses who were formerly on the Trading Estate, claims they have suffered a “raw deal” in having to relocate at their own expense.

“I think that the businesses that used to be here have been treated shabbily. They had a reasonable expectation of being able to carry on without being forced off.

After all, this was land was zoned as a trading estate and this was confirmed in the recent Local Plan process, which included a lengthy Public Enquiry," said Cllr Shaw.
"Some businesses, especially those involved in light engineering, have been facing significant costs in relocating - effectively through no fault of their own."

"That's why, before the Planning Committee came to its decision I asked Sefton's Chief Planning Officer whether a small part of the £723,000 that Sefton Council is receiving from Aldi couldn't be used to provide some modest compensation to those traders suffering from exceptional relocation costs. Unfortunately I was told that normally wasn't possible."

“Overall I think many of the traders have received a raw deal.”
Cllr Shaw points out that the Chief Planning Officer’s report includes the following comment:

“The importance of the Birkdale Trading Estate was recognised by the Local Plan Inspector at the examination hearings prior to the adoption of the Local Plan. Similarly, the Local Plan Inspector’s supportive findings regarding this protection of this site are very important.

Accordingly, these factors add great weight to ensure the site’s protection for business uses” but then it goes on to conclude that “the Chief Planning Officer accepts that the loss of the Birkdale Trading Estate is satisfactorily balanced by the offer of a commuted sum payment by the applicant of £723,000.”

(See page 17 at http://modgov.sefton.gov.uk/moderngo...ool%20Road.pdf )

Who currently owns the estate ?
surely they rather than Aldi have a responsibility towards their tenants.