Email sent to Cllr Mutton in advance of today’s planning meeting
John,
I note that a planning application is going before the committee today for a new Aldi store, and that this scheme has been recommended for approval. When the previous submission was made for houses off Middle Ride, I had hoped that they might be able to include a discount grocery store within that, because Willenhall currently only has the Co-op within walking distance. A new store like this should also be a tremendous employment opportunity, and staff need safe access just as much as customers.
I’m sure that the new Aldi will be welcomed by residents, just as much as I am looking forward to their new store opening at Cannon Park, but from the point of view of creating an accessible city, the Airport Retail Park really isn’t an ideal location for people to reach on foot or by bicycle, until some more improvements are provided to the local infrastructure.
It’s great to see that the application involves a long overdue retrofit of cycle parking around the site, but this will be of little benefit until some decent cycle paths are built. I know that the chances of section 106 contributions for what is a relatively small retail outlet are limited, but in the case of Cannon Park, the Cycle Coventry team managed to negotiate a new shared use path between Lynchgate road and the existing cycle route on Shultern Lane.
As an absolute minimum, protected dropped kerbs need to be provided between the back of the retail park and Yarningale road, but it really shouldn’t be unreasonable to ask for some sort of contribution towards a safe cycle route to the new houses at Middle Ride.
Also, in terms of design detailing, the cycle path exiting Tollbar island should have priority over the service road, and there should be a direct link into the retail park at this point, so that anyone approaching from, or travelling to, Ryton or the airport has safe access to the store.
I’m sorry for contacting you at the last minute, but I have only just found out about this scheme. If you are able to make any recommendations for cycling improvements as approval conditions, then I’m sure your constituents would very much appreciate it.
Best wishes,
James
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