A BUS stop has been added to a major food retailer’s plan to build a store near Ruthin.

Aldi has submitted its planning application to Denbighshire County Council seeking permission to build a store and employment unit on 3.67 acres of green land neighbouring the Ruthin Livestock Market off the A525.

The retailer launched a public consultation in May to gather residents’ opinions about its proposal for the store, which would construct an access road and include a car park with 138 spaces.

It would employ 40 people in senior to team roles, and would offer its highly regarded apprenticeship scheme. All staff would be paid a minimum wage of £9.10 per hour.

The retailer’s application says that the 650m² employment unit, which would be made available for local business use and could be expanded eight-fold to fit demand, could result in a further 10 or more jobs for the area.

The consultation received more than 90 per cent approval, however several concerns were raised.

A bus stop was not included in the initial proposal but it was identified as a popular want among prospective shoppers. Cllr Gavin Harris, mayor of Ruthin, also voiced concern that the proposed site, about one mile out of town, is too far away to get to by foot.

Aldi amended the plan that would now see a bus stop built on the A525.

There were also environmental concerns from some residents that the proposed site is green land. The planning application would build on grazing land. Construction would not remove surrounding trees or hedgerow.

There would be an inclined pedestrian and cycle access path, but only 12 bicycle parking spaces.

The building would use electricity for its energy consumption, 56 per cent of which would be from renewable and reusable sources.

Some residents expressed excitement about the store because they cannot afford to shop at Tesco and Co-op in Ruthin, and have to travel to Aldi in Denbigh or Mold.

Aldi said the proposed store would be a modest scale supermarket that provides about 1,900 product lines, in comparison with the average grocery or supermarket which offer between 2,000 and 40,000 lines.

Food and goods would be delivered to the store in three to four night or day trips from Neston, near Chester, as well as a weekly fresh milk delivery and two waste collections.

The application will now be voted on by the council’s planning committee.