They want to build an A1 food retail store on land at Tencreek Farm, Horningtops, which already has consent for the development of a services station for travellers, which has not been taken up. The site is also close to the Safeway Supermarket which opened five years ago.
Lidl's is known for its 'no frills - stack 'em high' policy and cheap prices, and already has four stores in Cornwall at Newquay, Penzance, St Austell and Wadebridge, with the nearest Devon branch to Liskeard being at Plymouth.
However, the planning application is already being strongly challenged by both the Liskeard and Looe Chambers of Commerce, and the members of Liskeard Town Forum at their meeting on Wednesday night also came out fully against another superstore for the town.
The Liskeard Chamber is arguing that there is no need for further retail development of this type and size on the town's periphery and that the application is contrary to the local plan and conflicts with local and national policies regarding out of town retail development.
Chairman Roger Terry said it was more important to attract commercial /industrial development to increase the opportunities for full time skilled employment, which will bring growth to the local economy. He said another supermarket out of town would only lead to more empty premises in the town centre and loss of existing jobs.
Campaign
Chairman of Looe Chamber, Dave Peat, said he had every sympathy with the traders of Liskeard his members having just come through a supermarket battle themselves. 'Liskeard seems to be picking itself up again lately and doesn't need to be beaten back down again' he said. 'It is time for the people of Liskeard to make a choice as to how they want their town centre to look'. He added that his Chamber would be fully behind their campaign to stop another supermarket coming to Liskeard as it would also have repercussions for Looe.
A Lidl's spokesperson said it was company policy to make no comments about new store developments, but did confirm its interest in Liskeard, and that the size would be the same as their existing stores and no larger.
The application will be heard by Caradon's planning west committee on February 10 before going before the full planning meeting.