THE Dene Drive car park in Winsford has closed today, August 26, as a supermarket is expected to be built on the site.

Cheshire West and Chester Council previously sold the land for £4.1 million, which is expected to go towards the town centre’s regeneration.

Retail giant Aldi submitted a planning application for a new supermarket on the site earlier this year, but CWAC is yet to give the scheme the green light.

The Guardian understands councillors were only made aware that the long-stay car park was set to close this week, and some CWAC members were not aware of the plans yesterday.

Cllr Mike Baynham, Conservative member for Over and Verdin, said: “It did not really give the shops and tenants of the shopping centre a lot of time to really find alternative parking.

“The Aldi development is a good move that we should be supporting, but as ever this was something where a bit more time to process things and find alternative arrangements would have been nice.

“It is going to be a shock to the system. My hope is that it will not have a negative effect on trading in town in the short term.”

Cllr Nathan Pardoe, Labour CWAC member for Wharton, says the use of the site as a car park was extended due to coronavirus but the site is now being prepared ahead of construction.

He added: "Council staff have worked hard from the moment they received notice of the closure to help visitors find alternative car parking.

"The disruption isn't ideal but the new Aldi store, if approved at planning, is a vital part of the town's expansion and regeneration.

"The creation of a new retail unit by Aldi will promote confidence in the town and attract other businesses whilst providing local jobs, which are desperately needed in the wake of Covid-19.

"There are alternative car parks for visitors, and new and improved car parking features in the town centre regeneration plans." 

Some residents took to Facebook to complain about the closure of the car park earlier today.

Commenting on the Winsford Community Forum page, one said: “Nowhere for people who work in the town to park.”

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Another said: “Where are people supposed to park that want to be going up town to shop for a long time?”

While the Dene Drive car park is long-stay, the Winsford Cross one has a three-hour limit, and the Wetherspoon car park is pay and display.

Further information on car parking for residents and businesses in town following the closure is due to be released by CWAC.