AUTHORITIES are looking to re-schedule a public inquiry into plans to build a new supermarket in Aberystwyth.

The Welsh Government was due to hold a public inquiry in March to look into plans by Aldi to build a new supermarket on the derelict site of the former Kwik Save and Cambrian Garage along Park Avenue.

Ceredigion County Council planners had approved the plans for the new supermarket at the site in June 2019, despite an objection from rival supermarket chain Lidl.

But the planning application was then called in by the Welsh Government over potential flooding concerns.

Since then, the Welsh Government had asked for representations, with a spokesperson confirming that a full public inquiry will be held.

This was scheduled to take place on 25 March but lockdown meant it had to be postponed.

A spokesperson for the Planning Inspectorate explained this week: “The inquiry was postponed due to Coronavirus and since then the Inspector has been reviewing the procedure in which the application should follow.

“After liaising with the appellant and Local Authority, it has been decided that the application will now proceed as a combination of written representations and a single hearing session.

“The hearing session will focus on matters relating to flood risk only. All other issues will be dealt with by means of written representations.

 

“The Inspector has written to the authority asking that all interested parties are informed of the changes to the procedure in order that all views and representations can be taken into account.

 

“A date for the Hearing has yet to be arranged.”

The store, if it is approved, is expected to create 40 jobs and see a long-standing empty site used. Aldi has owned the land for around 10 years.

Following the initial planning permission, Lidl had said it would consider going to judicial review to fight the Aldi application if it went ahead.