A supermarket giant has rubbished speculation that it is not forging ahead with plans for its latest Angus branch — although construction has slipped.
Aldi demolished a former Co-operative supermarket in Montrose and the site has been inactive since November, despite a planned start by the beginning of this month.
Local speculation over the time the development is taking has led to rumours that the site has been abandoned, and the levelled area has been linked to ScotRail as car parking for the rail station nearby.
The previous car parking has been used as an overflow by commuters since late 2015.
However the German chain has confirmed it is on track with plans to build a new store in the New Year.
A spokeswoman for Aldi said: “We are going ahead with plans to develop a store on this site in Montrose and construction work should start early next year.”
The supermarket chain bought the former Co-operative store in Basin View in 2015, after the Co-op shut its doors in August that year along with the Peacocks clothing store inside the building.
The Co-op had been open for five years and 37 people lost their jobs.
Montrose Lib Dem councillor David May said there was “something missing” in town since the High Street retailer closed.
“At a time when the national trend is for big supermarkets to close, the fact Aldi is coming will be a big boost to employment.
“Once people are in the town centre, I hope that they stop to use some of the specialist shops on the High Street and its surroundings.”
A “more detailed” programme of construction has yet to be revealed after The Courier first published artist impressions of the building in March.
The store’s proposed opening hours are between 8am and 10pm, Monday to Saturday, and 9am to 7pm on Sundays.
