New supermarket 'could cause chaos' on one of Manchester's busiest roads, campaigners claim
Lidl hopes to open a new store on Wilmslow Road, on a former bus depot site opposite Platt Fields Park. The shop will create 40 jobs, according to Lidl, which says it selected the spot next to Curry Mile because of the number of potential customers within a five-minute drive.
But cycling and walking campaigners have hit out at the proposed design, which features 91 car parking spaces and silver cladding.
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'It will cause more chaos for Wilmslow Road. They [already] have to divert buses because there's too much traffic [sometimes],' said Harry Gray from Walk Ride Greater Manchester.
'It's a prime active frontage location next to one of the busiest high streets in Manchester.'
Wilmslow Road traffic can build up as customers and deliveries make their way to Curry Mile, which features dozens of independent businesses. There is also another Lidl store at the other end of Curry Mile, only half-a-mile away.
Mr Gray argued introducing more journeys by car could affect the scores of Bee Network bus services that run along Wilmslow Road, which has been dubbed 'Europe's busiest bus route' in the past.
Thousands of students use buses to get from home in Fallowfield to university campuses on Oxford Road, which also serves as the main bus corridor for residents in Withington, Didsbury, and Northenden.
He continued: 'It does not fit in the big picture of what Andy Burnham is trying to achieve. The buses need to have space too and this will cause more traffic for an area that's important to the Bee Network.'
Walk Ride is now calling for residents to object to the proposals on Manchester council's planning website, citing concerns over 'poor active frontage', 'excessive parking', and 'climate and place-making conflict'.
'The scheme should be redesigned to reduce parking, bring the building to the street edge, and prioritise active travel,' its objection added.
Lidl said 'the proposed new store, and the overall site, will have a clean and contemporary design' in its planning application.
The plans for the new Lidl store can be viewed online here. It does not have planning permission yet.
Manchester City Council and Lidl were contacted for comment.
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