A SUPERMARKET chain’s proposals to demolish a neighbouring shop to make room for its own car park extension have been waved through by planners.

Bury Council’s planning committee has given Aldi the go-ahead to knock down a McColl’s convenience store and four flats at 34-36 Fountain Lane so that six additional spaces can be created for its store in Higher Lane, Whitefield.

Aldi chiefs say the extension is just the start of bigger plans the budget supermarket giant has for the site.

But the decision to allow the demolition of the building — which is owned by Aldi but houses the McColl’s store — was made despite an objectors’ plea to save the “community hub”.

Addressing members of the committee, Susan Boardman, of nearby Frankton Road, said: “McColl’s is a hub of the community for all the residents in the social housing behind it. They’re going to knock down a wonderful part of the community for a few car parking spaces.

“It doesn’t really make sense to me — unless you are not going to stop there and it’s just the beginning and something else is going to be knocked down.”

She continued: “This is a place which offers so many services, you can pay your bills, top up your phone there, leave parcels and collect parcels.”

On the loss of the flats above the McColl’s store, she added: “I thought we needed more social housing, not to knock them down. And there are also businesses below which we feel could be going in the future. Is this just the start of Aldi’s take over of the place?”