Supermarket giant Aldi has set out its proposal for where it wants to create the forever site of a much-loved Milton Keynes artwork.
Although heritage campaigners welcome the growing German-owned grocery company’s moves to relocate Bicycle Wall in Stantonbury they are asking for it to be placed in a different part of the site.
Aldi is eager to open the new store in Purbeck to take advantage of the lucrative Christmas trading period.
But planning conditions slapped on the business by Milton Keynes Council mean that it isn’t allowed to “occupy” the new store before the mural is placed in a new location.
In their submission to Milton Keynes Council for the discharge of “condition 21” of planning consent, Aldi has proposed re-erecting the mural off the supermarket site, next to a redway.
It has ruled out other options, including the mural in the design of the store, because it would been “out of keeping” with the approved design of the new supermarket.
Aldi’s planning expert Dan Templeton says in his submission to the council that a site to the south of the store’s car park has been ruled out because they have to use that part of the site for drainage.
And he also rejects it for design reasons.
But Aldi’s proposed forever site for the mural, which is made of hundreds of tiles and shows school pupils and bicycles, has raised concerns from local campaigners.
Aldi’s favoured proposal is to place the mural near to the northwest of the store near a redway, and have vowed to keep an eye on it.
“The overall strategy has been to ensure the mural is re-erected in a location that ensures it would be appreciated by the greatest number of local residents, and with an appropriate level of natural surveillance,” says Mr Templeton.
Tim Skelton, of the Milton Keynes Forum, said: “The site they are proposing is only about one metre from the footpath, putting it at risk of damage and vandalism. You will be able to reach out and touch it.
“Although it would be visible from the road, there will be no visibility from the store, and we are concerned that it could be a case of out of sight, out of mind.”
Mr Skelton and other campaigners are wanting a meeting on the site before a decision is made, so it can make its case.
He also wants to see it decided by a committee of councillors, not by officers using delegated powers.
The application for a discharge of the planning condition is currently on the council’s website and available for comment.
