Councillors have reacted with disappointment after Aldi's travel plan for its new Biddulph supermarket made no mention of a proposed 93 bus route to the store.

The supermarket applied to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council earlier this month to discharge a planning condition relating to the travel plan - an application that Biddulph Town Council have opposed due to the lack of acknowledgement to the 93 bus.

In recent months, town councillors have stressed the importance of providing a bus route onto the site in several meetings, and said they were keen to work with Aldi to ensure this could be made a reality for the new Biddulph supermarket.

At a planning meeting held last night (Tuesday), town councillors were keen to point out that Aldi spoke of their commitment to providing a bus route onto the site on the day that the supermarket was given the go ahead.

But concerns were raised after the supermarket's travel plan only mentioned bus stops at least 300 metres away from the store.

Committee chair Cllr David Hawley said: "As far as bus travel is concerned, the document highlights bus stops within 300 metres of the site. There is no mention of the proposed bus stop for the 93 bus or their intention to help facilitate this.

"Given that the plan ignores the 93, I think they should be including this. Things seemed to be moving forward with it, so I'd suggest we get them to put it in the travel plan."

Biddulph's mayor, Cllr John Jones, expressed his disappointment following Aldi's previous acknowledgement that they would work with the council to provide a bus route.

He said: "Given the absolute firm and committed way that Mr Brown spoke of having provision for the 93 bus I am very disappointed that it's not in the travel plan.

"I would be in favour of refusing, because they were absolutely clear that they would work with us to provide this. I'm not saying they won't do it, but I'm very disappointed that it's not in the travel plan."

Cllr Hawley noted that Aldi still appeared to want to provide a bus route, but more clarification was needed.

He said: "I have seen some emails and it does appear that they're trying to help us do it, but we need to get some clarification."

Cllr Jones replied: "They unequivocally said they would work with us and there would be no backtracking, so the fact it hasn't been included is of some concern."

Cllr Nigel Yates pointed out the environmental and safety concerns of not having a bus route, saying: "How people are expected to walk back with a week's shopping in their hand, I just don't know. We know that short car journeys cause the most accidents and are the most polluting, so I think we should push this back and not support it as it's written."

While Cllr Jim Davies agreed that having a bus stop 300 metres away from the supermarket was "far too far".

He said: "The 93 bus comes round five times a day. It's a small bus, which is exactly what's needed, so I don't see a reason not to allow it. 300 metres is far too far for anyone to carry shopping, and of course there is the climate change issue."

Cllr Chris Perkin added: "We wanted this bus service to include more of the community. It's unacceptable for us to support this if that isn't included."

And Cllr Jones gave further clarification, saying: "I just want to clarify that Aldi haven't said they won't have the bus, we're just disappointed that they haven't confirmed it in this travel plan."

Councillors voted to recommend the application for refusal as it stands, and ask that details of a 93 bus route to the supermarket should be included.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council will have the final say on the application at a later date.

To view the application and the travel plan in full, click here.