Public petition aims to strengthen support for Aldi store in County Roscommon

A public petition aimed at demonstrating local support for a long-awaited Aldi development in Boyle will be launched in the town on Friday.

Campaigners have organised a marquee on the Crescent for Friday and Saturday, September 4th and 5th, from 10.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. each day from where they will invite residents to add their names to the petition and voice their backing for the proposed supermarket project.

The initiative comes eight months after Roscommon County Council granted planning permission for the Aldi development on St Patrick Street. However, the project was subsequently appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála by a third party.

Organisers stress that the petition will have no bearing on the planning process, as the period for submissions to the appeals body has already closed. Instead, they say the campaign is intended to highlight the strength of feeling within the local community over the delay and uncertainty surrounding the project.

Supporters argue that the arrival of Aldi would deliver significant benefits for Boyle, including the creation of 30 permanent jobs, the provision of 96 town centre parking spaces and the regeneration of a key street in the town.

The petition is also being seen as an opportunity to send a positive message to potential investors about Boyle's future prospects.

Organisers say the campaign will demonstrate that Boyle is open for business and remains an attractive location for investment, despite ongoing uncertainty over one of the town's most high-profile retail developments.