Aldi are welcomed into town
The new Aldi in Bagenalstown.
Tuesday February 09 2010
THE NEW Aldi supermarket in Bagenalstown will open its doors to the public on February 18 – but its opening raised the thorny issue of planning yet again when the councillors met on Thursday night.
Members welcomed Aldi to the town and congratulated the planning authority on the development but raised concerns once more over the planning process in Bagenalstown.
In recent meetings there were numerous debates around the table over objections to planning proposals for Bagenalstown, particularly following the decision by An Bord Pleanála against the construction of Lidl.
Cllr Paddy Kiely wanted to take the opportunity to note that the planning department of the county council did a 'fantastic job' with Aldi.
'I know people always have to have a choice but I do remember sitting on this council when a hotel on that site was objected to.'
He remembered receiving a solicitor's letter and being legally threatened by objectors after he raised the issue at a council meeting.
'They devastated this town with their objections and then when I discussed it they sent me a solicitor's letter,' he said.
'They tried to muzzle me up but I won't be muzzled up.'
He said he believed it was only people of a certain gender and from certain families who could receive planning permission in Bagenalstown.
Cllr David O'Brien said he believed credit was due to the planning authority over the Aldi development.
'A lot of thought went in to it,' he said. 'The green area is the first thing you see. When they produce something to this standard then they have to be complimented.'
Cllr Arthur McDonald said 60 per cent of applications were turned down by An Bord Pleanala and the he believed Bagenalstown was plagued by serial objectors who are 'very clever'.
'These people know how to object to An Bord Pleanala and I believe that if they had objected to Aldi it would never have happened.'
