New supermarket could open despite fears busy road could be made ‘far worse’

Lidl announced earlier this year it had plans to open more stores in Cambridgeshire

A new Lidl supermarket could open in a Cambridgeshire village but there are concerns that a busy road nearby could be made “far worse” by the development.

Earlier this year, Lidl announced a “wish list” of 876 locations, including some in Cambridgeshire, where it wants to open new stores. Plans have since been revealed for a new Lidl in Hartford, near Huntingdon, which would be on a plot of land south of Main Street (B1514).

A Lidl spokesperson previously said: “A new Lidl foodstore off Main Street/B1514 in Hartford would provide local residents with an additional shopping option, while reducing the need to travel further afield for regular grocery shopping.

“The site, located to the east of Hartford and adjacent to Huntingdon Road, has previously been identified for development. We believe a new Lidl foodstore would deliver a range of community benefits, including greater access to affordable shopping and the creation of new jobs for local people.”

The land that the new store would be built on had outline planning approval for 25 to 30 homes. However, the Lidl spokesperson said this scheme had “not progressed”. A planning application sought a request for an EIA Screening Opinion which has now been deemed as not an EIA development. The local planning authority considered that the project would “not give rise to ‘significant effects’ on the wider environment owing to its scale, nature and location”.

Several locals have now shared their concerns about the new supermarket. One person said: “The traffic resulting from the development would make an already busy road far worse.”

They questioned why Huntingdon needs another supermarket, adding “we have plenty”. Within a short distance from the site are other supermarkets such as Tesco Extra, Sainsbury’s and a Lidl just seven-minutes away by driving.

Another objector claimed: “It will increase road use on what is currently a busy area. The jobs that will be created in the long term are not necessarily the ones needed for Huntingdon – lots of retail opportunities currently.”

Meanwhile another person said they are “highly concerned” that Lidl has given “too little consideration” to the current traffic flows and congestion along Main Street.

They added: “The proposed entrance is very close to a pedestrian crossing and the two bus stops, and almost opposite the exit from Owl Way. A more sensible and less dangerous entrance, in my opinion, as a local resident, would be off Huntingdon Road, where all leaving traffic could be directed to turn right up to the roundabout, rather than try to cross the already very busy traffic flow.”

The supermarket giant intends to submit a full planning application for the new Lidl store.