Work begins at Bispham's new Aldi store with promises to keep car park litter-free

Construction has begun at Bispham's new Aldi store, which bosses said they hoped to open in Autumn.
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The retailer will be moving into the former Poundstretcher unit on Holyoake Avenue, Bispham.

Poundstretcher closed its doors for the final time on February 26, four years after it opened in 2017.

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Meanwhile, contractors and diggers moved onto the car park earlier this week to begin construction, with the hope the store will be ready to open "in Autumn."

Work has begun on the former Poundstretcher unit in Holyoake Avenue, Bispham, which is set to become an Aldi supermarket. Photo: Daniel Martino/JPI MediaWork has begun on the former Poundstretcher unit in Holyoake Avenue, Bispham, which is set to become an Aldi supermarket. Photo: Daniel Martino/JPI Media
Work has begun on the former Poundstretcher unit in Holyoake Avenue, Bispham, which is set to become an Aldi supermarket. Photo: Daniel Martino/JPI Media

Aldi bosses also vowed to clamp down on littering in its car park.

The car park, which currently has two combined exits and entrances, is set to be overhauled, according to planning documents, to make it safer for pedestrians.

Traffic would only be allowed to drive out from the farthest exit from the junction, documents revealed.

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But the car park has been a hotbed for fly-tipping in recent years, with significant amounts of litter being dumped on the site.

Work has begun on the former Poundstretcher unit in Holyoake Avenue, Bispham, which is set to become an Aldi supermarket. Photo: Daniel Martino/JPI MediaWork has begun on the former Poundstretcher unit in Holyoake Avenue, Bispham, which is set to become an Aldi supermarket. Photo: Daniel Martino/JPI Media
Work has begun on the former Poundstretcher unit in Holyoake Avenue, Bispham, which is set to become an Aldi supermarket. Photo: Daniel Martino/JPI Media

Plastic bottles, beer cans, and even an abandoned sofa were found to have been left on the car park in recent weeks, prompting Aldi to confirm ahead of planned building work it would aim to keep its car park litter-free.

"Aldi aims to ensure all of its construction sites are run to a high standard, part of which involves keeping the site free from litter," the retailer said.

Greenlands councillor Rick Scott said he was optimistic about Aldi's development, and would also ensure the site was kept litter-free for residents.

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"I think personally that the Aldi store will be a great boon, not only for Greenlands ward but the other four or five surrounding wards," Coun Scott said.

Work has begun on the former Poundstretcher unit in Holyoake Avenue, Bispham, which is set to become an Aldi supermarket. Photo: Daniel Martino/JPI MediaWork has begun on the former Poundstretcher unit in Holyoake Avenue, Bispham, which is set to become an Aldi supermarket. Photo: Daniel Martino/JPI Media
Work has begun on the former Poundstretcher unit in Holyoake Avenue, Bispham, which is set to become an Aldi supermarket. Photo: Daniel Martino/JPI Media

"It is also good that we are getting continuance to avoid empty premises that could become a magnet for antisocial behaviour. Aldi are also investing £30,000 into the local road structure.

"I have been inundated with calls from residents about when the new store will be open, and the community in general are very eager for this to happen.

"Aldi will be responsible for maintaining the site, and I will be the first one to complain to them if I hear that they haven’t been."

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Fly-tipping incidents were reported to Blackpool Council nine times a day on average between 2019-20, with over 100 incidents totalling a costly £17,250 to clean up.

The 20,000sq ft retail space on Holyoake Avenue is set to be divided up into two units, with Aldi occupying one and another retailer set for the other.

Signage for local retailer B&M is also planned, documents suggested, with proposals set to be filed at a later date.

But B&M previously said it had no plans to open a store in the unit, although it was always scouting new locations.

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