A KNUTSFORD supermarket has applied to create more parking spaces at its town centre store less than a year after opening.

Aldi on Brook Street has this week submitted plans to Cheshire East Council to build 16 more spaces – taking the total number to 107 – at its branch in the town.

Since it opened in June 2013 the store has been a big success for the German-based company.

So much so it now wants to increase the number of parking spaces, with the land identified close to the entrance and on an area of the site earmarked for future development, close to where the cottages that made up Caesar Place once stood.

The decision whether it is approved or not is to be made by a ‘delegated authority’ – in essence this means it will not go to committee.

However, Clr Stewart Gardiner, town councillor and ward member for the town at Cheshire East Council, said he wanted to see the decision discussed by a panel of councillors.

In a letter to planning officers he said: “Please can I request that this application goes before a committee – the car park extension may fall under minor applications but given it is being submitted so soon after the store opened and I understand there are still unresolved issues relating to the original application (contributions to highway works I believe) it seems to me that it is appropriate for it to go back to committee.

“In light of this and the fact that people were in uproar when it was approved and are still rumpling on about it in the press, I believe the level of public interest plus the added impact upon an already full highways network is sufficient reason for it to be called in.”

What do you think about the extra parking spaces? Should they be made available for town centre shoppers? Leave you comments below.