A COUNCILLOR has said that Wellington should apply to the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most supermarkets per population.

Cllr Keith Wheatley was speaking at Wellington Town Council’s monthly meeting on Monday, September 1, where councillors were discussing a planning application to build an Aldi supermarket on land to the south of the A38 and east of West Buckland Road.

Wellington already has Waitrose in Red Lion Court, Asda in Longforth Road, the Co-op in Fore Street and Lidl off Nynehead Road.

Now it looks as if Aldi will be creating a store just off the Chelston Roundabout – a stone’s throw away from Wellington town centre.

Cllr Wheatley quipped: “This will be the fifth supermarket for Wellington. I think we should apply for a Guinness World Record for having the best ratio of supermarkets to people.

“We’ve got a population of 17,000 people who will be served by five supermarkets. I can’t think of any other town which is served by so many supermarkets!”

The Aldi site lies within the parish of West Buckland, but Wellington councillors have been asked for their thoughts on the application.

Cllr John Thorne said: “This is a major application which is happening just over our boundary, but is important for Wellington and for people who do their shopping here. It will clearly be approved as there is nothing wrong with the site.”

Wellington councillors made no objection to the plans for the 14,000 sq ft store, although a final decision will rest with the Somerset Council.

Aldi has said that up to 30 full-time equivalent jobs will be created at the new £7-million supermarket.

Somerset Council’s online planning portal has received a large number of emails from people in support of the application saying that Wellington needs another store to meet the demands of a growing population.