Aldi under pressure to clean up site

Fears were raised that Aldi would turn its back on plans to build on the former Conservative Club, on Clifton Drive North, and Job Centre, on St George’s Road, with its original planning permission due to expire in July.

But the supermarket chain has now applied to Fylde Council for a further three years to carry out their plans.

Work on the store was expected to start in 2009, but was hit by the recession and Aldi was left unable to find a development partner to carry out its plans with.

The original plans for the site include a four-storey building comprising the new store, a new Conservative Club, 34 apartments and a basement car park.

The news that Aldi has re-applied for planning permission has been welcomed by the town’s chamber of trade, who want to see the derelict Job Centre tidied up before the Open Golf next summer.

Trade chairman John Moxham said: “Our organisation is still putting Aldi under pressure to keep the site half-decent looking. we’re spending money making the Square look good for 2012 and the old Job Centre looks awful.”