SUPERMARKET giant Aldi are proposing to open a store at the former Bronx factory site on Thorns Road, Lye.

They staged a public meeting earlier this month at Lye Town Football Club to outline their plans to local residents.

Although Aldi have yet to submit a final planning application to Dudley Council, the prospect of a new discount food store has already gone down well with locals.

More than 210 people were approached and 94 per cent were in favour of the new store.

Aldi are planning to provide free customer car parking and landscaping to the Thorns Road site, where around 40 new jobs are expected to be created.

And the proposal has already received the backing of Stourbridge Conservative Margot James, the constituency's MP for the last five years.

She said: "I am delighted that Aldi are planning on opening one of their stores in Lye.
"I know local residents would benefit from the high quality, yet low cost products that Aldi offers.

"The multi-million pound investment in Lye would also create 40 new jobs and I was very pleased to hear at the exhibition that local job seekers would be prioritised for these roles."

But long-serving Lye councillor and Labour parliamentary candidate Pete Lowe confirmed: "There are pluses and minuses to take into consideration.

"Yes, it would bring jobs and much-needed regeneration to the area.

"But we would also need to know how much impact a new Aldi store would have on existing businesses in Quarry Bank and Lye.

"We would also like to see how it would affect residents living in Mears Coppice."

Aldi are now reviewing all feedback, which could shape their final proposal before plans are officially submitted.