Discount store Aldi eyes up site in Trim

Plans are underway to bring an Aldi supermarket to Trim but the move would require a variation or material contravention of the local development plan to allow a discount foodstore to be built on the site. A preliminary meeting took place between council planners and representatives of Kilcock-based construction company Southwest Partnership Ltd, which is seeking to develop lands along the ring road in the town, close to the Longwood Road. The lands in question are opposite the Knightsbridge retirement complex on the Longwood Road and are currently zoned light industrial. Trim Town Manager and Meath County Council"s director of economic development Kevin Stewart confirmed that a preliminary discussion had taken place. He said: 'The land is currently zoned E2 (light industrial use) which does not allow a development such as Aldi. We have been approached by the landowners who have asked us to consider zoning part of the site to allow the development of an Aldi store. We have outlined the issues involved and they have gone away to consider them.' It is understood that if the plan goes ahead, there would be major community gain for Trim Celtic FC to the tune of €900,000 that would allow the club to build new, modern facilities. The development would also create new employment opportunities. Cllr Jimmy Fegan (FF) and Fine Gael"s Peter Higgins have been involved in bringing representatives from Southwest Partnership, Trim Celtic and Aldi to meet with council planners to discuss the proposals. It is understood that the development of the site would provide a major injection of finance to Trim Celtic FC, estimated to be in the region of €900,000 for the development of the clubs facilities and would also provide job-creating office and ancillary units, and the entry to Trim of Aldi, a major international discount store. The executive of Trim Celtic under the chairmanship of Ciaran Gaughran have been involved in talks with Southwest Partnership for some time now. Town council Fianna Fail candidate Ronan McKenna is also a member of the executive and has been involved in the project and acted as a conduit between all parties to the Trim proposal and the two area councillors who arranged interaction between the promoters and the planners. Cllr Jimmy Fegan declined to comment on the substance of the proposal, but said that he and Cllr Higgins had been assisting the promoters for months. 'I see the potential for another major gain for Trim in this proposal. Cllr Peter Higgins and I have placed this proposition before the senior planners at Meath County Council, it is now up to them, but we have to give the planners space to decide,' he said.