BUDGET supermarket chain Aldi is asking county planners for a larger store at its long-awaited development at the “eyesore” gateway to Pembroke Dock.

Aldi applications for a store at the former Waterloo Garage site, next the A477 London Road, have a history going back many years, but nothing has yet been built.

Full planning permission to build an Aldi food store and a car park at the site, was granted in November 2009, with a condition that construction must start within five years.

Just days before that permission was due to expire last November, an Aldi application came before the county council’s planning committee, asking for the time limit on the proposed 1,280sq metre application to be extended; which was approved unanimously.

The latest application seeks to extend the store size to 1,804m sq, with a floor space of 1,254m sq.

Aldi says the store would create up to 40 full and part-time jobs when built.

In a report for planners by Aldi Stores Ltd’s agent Turley stated: “Whilst the extant permission has not been implemented, due to changing commercial requirements and the impact of the economic downturn, Aldi remains committed to the delivery of the new limited assortment discount food store to serve the residents of Pembroke Dock.”

The proposal includes 108 customer car parking spaces, seven parent and child spaces and four designated spaces for disabled users, 10 cycle spaces, and nine staff spaces.

The report states the application will have “a negligible impact on the local highway network”.

Pembroke Dock Mayor Peter Kraus described the news as “brilliant,” adding: “That would be a really good attraction for Pembroke Dock, it would be a huge bonus; it’s been an eyesore for so many years; to have them there would be a big attraction for the town.”

He added: I’m looking forward to it; I just wish it would be completed soon.”