COUNCILLORS in a village where a supermarket chain is proposing to build a new store say they are disappointed a planning application has been submitted to Wrexham council.

The plans by Aldi to build on around three acres of land at the corner of Gresford Road and the Straight Mile, were submitted on Wednesday and discussed later that evening at a meeting of Llay Community Council.

Bryan Apsley, chair of the Community Council, said he had been given assurances by representatives of Aldi that no plans would be submitted until the outstanding issue of the Crown crossroads updates had been resolved.

Cllr Apsley said: "We knew it was going to come, but the problem we've got now is that we have just 21 days to provide a comment on the plans, which have only been submitted today. The fact we don't meet in August (due to a summer recess) puts us in a very difficult position.

"When we met with them (Aldi) last month, they said to us they wouldn't do anything to upset the community and they wouldn't be moving on with anything until the Crown crossroads are sorted."

Cllr Rob Walsh said the fact the plans had been submitted on Wednesday had taken him by surprise and suggested the budget supermarket had an important role to play in ensuring the community council had enough time to properly consider and respond to the application.

Cllr Walsh said: "When we met with representatives of Aldi at the public unveiling of the plans, they gave me the impression they wanted to co-operate with us, so I guess this news will put that to the test now.

"I must say, it took me by surprise the fact that the plans were submitted today (Wednesday) but I guess we are where we are with it."

Cllr Walsh went on to say the community council would be applying for an extension in the time allowed for them to make a formal comment on the plans, so that the item can be addressed fully at their next meeting in September.

He added: "If the council say no to this request, then I will have to contact Aldi directly and remind them of how they went public with the fact the won't be doing anything until the issue with the crossroads are resolved.

"I'm sure if Aldi want to co-operate with us as much as they say they do, they would have no objection to us being given more time to consider the plans.

"I actually think it would be a gesture of goodwill on Aldi's part if the tight deadline by which comments have to be made was relaxed somewhat.

"From the talks I have had with them, I think they are very mindful of their reputation, so they're not going to do anything that is likely to damage that."

Cllr Sharon Roberts said she also spoke to the representatives of Aldi at the public meeting held in June and that was also given assurances that the plans would not be submitted until it was known what was happening with the crossroads.

"I just don't understand why they've submitted the plans when they don't even know what the improvements are going to be."

Aldi has said its proposals would create up to 40 new jobs and provide an modern food store in a convenient location for the village.