Waitrose objects to Lidl’s plans to open a new store in Keynsham

Waitrose has lodged an objection to Lidl’s redevelopment plans for a site directly opposite its Broadmead Lane store in Keynsham.

The Jewson site opposite Waitrose in Keynsham

Bath & North East Somerset Council highways officers have also flagged up significant concerns about the potential traffic impact of a proposed Lidl store, saying that more modelling work is needed to prove otherwise.

The discount retailer wants to demolish the industrial units at the Jewson and Glenavon Timber Services site and build a new store with parking for 135 cars.

The access would see the junction that currently serves the Jewson site upgraded. The entrance to the Glenavon site would be closed.

Consultants acting on behalf of Waitrose have raised “significant” concerns about the ability of its customers to drive in and out of the store’s car park as a result of the proposed Lidl access.

They say the proposal does not “fully and robustly” show that the highways impacts would be acceptable.

As we reported in August, the council’s economic development team has objected due to the loss of industrial land and a traffic management officer for Avon and Somerset Police has warned that the increase in traffic from another major supermarket will impact on the force’s ability to safely respond to emergency calls from its base in nearby Ashmead Road.

The police had raised similar concerns over the proposed Aldi store at nearby Bath Road. The council’s planning committee granted permission for that in June, despite their officers recommending refusal on traffic congestion grounds.

The road network around Broadmead Roundabout is already busy due to the Unity Road and Ashmead Road industrial estates, Ashmead Road police site, Keynsham Recycling Centre, Avon Valley Adventure Park, Domino’s and KFC.

There are also emerging plans for highway works along the A4 between Bath and Bristol and for more large-scale housing developments in the area.

Consultants for Lidl are said to be carrying out microsimulation modelling.

The council is due to make a decision on Lidl’s proposals by the end of October.