A CONTROVERSIAL new Aldi store planned for St Annes looked set to take another step forward this week.
The store – on the site of the former Conservative Club at the corner of Clifton Drive North and St George's Road – was recommended for approval by Fylde Council's development control committee yesterday.
The application from Aldi proposes the dem
olition of the club and St Anthony's House – a vacant office building which was previously a JobCentre and temporary accommodation for Blackpool and The Fylde College – at the rear.
The plans are for a new four-storey building comprising an Aldi store, 34 apartments and a new Conservative Club, with basement car parking and landscaping.
Lytham St Annes Civic Society says it has no objection to the demolition of St Anthony's House. However, it does not want to see the loss of the existing three-storey, stone-built Porritt house, which it says is an "essential part of the heritage townscape of St Annes".
The society, which claims it has never been consulted on the plans, says at the very least the facade of the Conservative Club should be kept.
It has told the council: "Many other supermarkets have taken this approach in other parts of the country.
"It is a price they pay for the acquisition of a town centre site and Aldi should do the same."
The development control meeting was told that planning officers consider the demolition and redevelopment of St Anthony's House outweighed the loss of the Conservative Club.
They say the scheme has been amended to "minimise potential adverse impacts" on local residents.
The full article contains 272 words and appears in Lytham St Annes Express newspaper.
