DISCOUNT supermarket Aldi has been given the green light to open a new supermarket in Keynsham despite traffic concerns.

Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee voted on June 10 to grant planning permission for the supermarket to open on World’s End Lane, by the new recycling centre.

The decision went against the recommendation of the council’s own planning officers, who warned it should be turned down due to the potential for it to cause major delays on Pixash Lane and Broadmead Lane.

The planning application was supported by the public with around 200 people in favour of the plans, and just 20 raising an objection.

Aldi’s Elliott Saunders told the planning committee: “This is a major investment that will deliver real, tangible benefits, most notably 40 high quality secure jobs, with Aldi proud to be the UK’s highest paying supermarket.

“At a time when household budgets are squeezed, the store will give local families access to high quality food at the lowest prices in the market.”

Planning committee member Hal McFie, for Keynsham East said he had been excited to get an Aldi but would vote against the plan. He commented: “I waited two hours to get out of Waitrose on one particular day. So the traffic has to be right, and it clearly isn’t.”

Shaun Hughes for Midsomer Norton North, said that if traffic was bad during peak hours, people would adapt, and shop at another time. He added: “Residents should be entitled to competition and choice which they don’t currently seem to have. We are planning to build about 7,000 houses so the need for a new supermarket is clear from that.”

Aldi’s longtime rival, Lidl, has recently announced its plan to build a supermarket in the town with a planning application due for submission for a store on Broadmead Lane, opposite Waitrose.