Bath Rejects Lidl Green Field Plan

Bath and North East Somerset Council has refused permission for a Lidl supermarket to be built on a green field on the outskirts of the city. The proposed development on London Road in Bath was opposed due to concerns about its impact on local wildlife, specifically bats, and potential harm to the renowned Bath UNESCO World Heritage Site. Traffic congestion and the effect on existing local businesses were also cited as reasons for refusal.

Lidl had presented arguments in favor of the project, stating that it would fulfill a need for a budget supermarket in the eastern part of Bath, create approximately 40 jobs, and significantly reduce customer travel distances and associated carbon emissions. However, these justifications did not outweigh the substantial public opposition, which included 740 objections.

Local Green councillors welcomed the council's decision, highlighting a nearly four-year campaign against the plans. They acknowledged the public's desire for affordable food during the cost of living crisis but emphasized the significant concerns about increased traffic disturbance in the eastern part of Bath. This refusal follows a recent similar decision in Cheddar, where a proposed Lidl was also denied due to insufficient evidence regarding the protection of endangered species.