Lidl Alexandria: Vale of Leven Trust fears over plans and urge to 'stop building just flats'

Detailed plans for a new Lidl supermarket and 25 flats on Mitchell Way were lodged with West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) on January 12 and validated a week later.

Following the background papers on the plans being released on January 31, the Vale of Leven Trust has said it has a number of objections.

The Trust’s chair, Janice Ross, says the group opposes the plans because of fears they could result in Alexandria “becoming a housing estate, not a town centre”.

She said: “We do oppose the development based on the flats being located in the town centre without any retail units.

“This, coupled with the recent Bank Street block of flats and proposed housing on the old medical centre, is resulting in our town becoming a housing estate, not a town centre.

“We’re not saying flats shouldn’t be built. What we’re saying is we need to stop building just flats.”

Mitchell Way in Alexandria

The charity, currently based in a unit on the south side of Mitchell Way, voiced concerns over the impact of the proposals on independent businesses in the area.

Janice said that residents in the area would like to see an increase in retail units.

She added: “People in every consultation keep saying we want retail, we want shops. The pandemic has shown evidence that people do want to shop local, people do want to buy and support local shops – but if we don’t provide any and only build houses, where do people shop?

“The independent shopkeepers are the ones that genuinely live, work, spend their money in the local community.

“With bigger stores, the money goes elsewhere either down south or overseas. So yes, it produces some jobs, but in the grand scheme of things we are not creating wealth.

“People will earn money but we want it to be put back into our economy, back into the town – and when all the profits are driven overseas or down south that doesn’t happen.”

Mitchell Way in Alexandria

The plans – which would see the long-awaited demolition of the existing building on the southern side of Mitchell Way – have been in motion for more than a decade.

The application is for a range of one and two bedroom flats over four floors, the Lidl food store, and an extra 93 parking spaces.

Janice says the Trust does not oppose the flats and store being built but would rather the plans “work for the town”.

She said: “We are not fighting against Lidl coming to the town. That’s not what the objection’s about. It [Lidl] has to work for the town as well as for Lidl.

“How does it help the town? The town is going to end up with no shops but a Lidl and an Aldi: how does that benefit the Vale of Leven? How does that benefit people who live and work here?

“We don’t need another one [shop] that sits out on its own and doesn’t benefit anyone except the business itself.”

Car park behind Mitchell Way

A year ago, councillors agreed to ask Lidl to reconsider its original plans for the new store by creating a clear boundary between existing shops and the proposed new homes and having the store frontage facing on to Mitchell Way itself.

A Lidl spokesperson told the authority’s infrastructure, regeneration, and economic development committee that the firm would “try and address any concerns raised as best they can”.

West Dunbartonshire Council has been contacted for comment.