An Ashby councillor says he has been refused the chance to speak at the deferred meeting which will decide on the proposed new Lidl supermarket in Resolution Road.

Cllr Murrae Blair-Park, the ward member for the area where the new store is being planned, says North West Leicestershire District Council chair, Cllr Russell Boam, will not allow him to address next week's meeting.

However, while Cllr Blair-Park did speak at last month's meeting, he cannot present additional information at the deferred meeting taking place next Wednesday.

Ashby Nub News has contacted North West Leicestershire District Council for comment, but it is likely to say this is standard practice.

The scheme is set to get the green light at the meeting, despite concerns over the amount of extra traffic, and the fact that the current Ashfield House office space will need to be demolished to make way for the new Lidl.

Cllr Blair-Park says he has fresh figures to present to councillors at the meeting - but has been denied that opportunity.

The District Councillor told Ashby Nub News: "The Ashby population stands at 16,470 and the footfall into this junction of visiting retail businesses is in excess of 31,000, weekly - this does not include the staff working on the Coalfield Way Business Park.

Cllr Blair-Park outside the site of the planned Lidl supermarket - where a 'for sale' sign is still on display

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"The addition of a new Lidl would add at least another 5,000 visits based upon the retail square footage to this presently gridlocked area of Ashby.

"Phase Two of the Money Hill development is not expected to progress until 2027 according to the developers, but, employment land has been allocated on the outskirts running next to the A511, clearly a more suitable location for a new grocery retailer.

"It was reported in the Grocer, in March 2024, that Lidl was seeking investment to progress the rollout of new stores, this would mean that on approval of planning the Ashby site would be sold to investors who would then lease it to Lidl.

"The planning team has highlighted the traffic congestion issue in that area, but they are recommending this application be approved by the planning committee.

"The committee needs to be aware of the current size of footfall and associated traffic and that the addition of another grocery retailer in the area would be adding a further 5,000 visits to this heavily congested area of Ashby."

Earlier this year, a Lidl spokesperson responded to The Grocer article by saying: "We have long taken a flexible approach to delivering new sites with the core aim of giving all households access to a Lidl store."