Today Nine Years of Aldi Oakham: Celebrating a Store Built on Public Passion, Videos and Photos.

Nine Years of Aldi Oakham: Celebrating a Store Built on Public Passion

 

It was a busy first day, many customers had waited outside over night.

Today marks a significant milestone for shoppers in Oakham, Rutland, as the local Aldi store celebrates its 8th anniversary! The popular supermarket, which has become a staple for many in the community, was officially opened nine years ago with a fittingly celebratory fanfare.

The grand opening was graced by Laura Unsworth, a Team GB Rio Olympic Hockey medalist, alongside members of the Oakham Rugby Club, symbolising the store's connection to community and sporting achievement.

The Meeting That Shook Rutland Museum

While the store has been a success story for nine years, its journey to fruition was anything but quiet. Rewind 11 years ago, and you'll find a remarkable display of public support for Aldi's plan to build in Oakham.

The sheer volume of local residents eager to show their backing for the supermarket led to an extraordinary planning meeting. The Council's development control committee meeting had to be moved from the regular council offices to the Rutland County Museum just to accommodate the crowds.

Hundreds of people packed the museum, spilling out amongst the farming exhibits, with some even standing upstairs. The atmosphere was reportedly electric and, at times, boisterous. Cheers and applause frequently erupted, sometimes annoying the committee chairman who was forced to advise the public he would adjourn the meeting if they didn't keep quiet.

Oakham Town Council also formally supported the plans, with the then-Mayor of Oakham, Jayne Woodcock, giving a deputation on their behalf.

Aldi’s Pledge and Local Benefits

Before the debate, which spanned over an hour, Ciaran Aldridge, Aldi’s property director for the Atherstone region, addressed the committee. He urged councillors to approve the store, highlighting Aldi’s commitment to the local area.

Aldi had claimed the store would create up to 40 new jobs for the community. Crucially, Mr. Aldridge also confirmed that the supermarket was agreeing to a significant £100,000 developer contribution aimed at helping to improve Oakham Town Centre, further sweetening the deal for the town.

The Vote: Overwhelming Public Support vs. Planning Advice

Despite the planning officers’ recommendation for refusal, the committee was faced with overwhelming evidence of local desire for the store. Councillors heard that the proposal had generated hundreds of letters and e-mails of support from the community. Furthermore, two separate petitions in favour of the plans collectively amassed thousands of signatures, alongside numerous supporters on social media campaigns.

 

One brief, notable moment came when Cllr William Cross proposed members of the public should applaud council staff for their hard work, though this proposal didn't gain traction.

Ultimately, the voice of the community prevailed. The members of the development control committee decided to approve the plans with a clear majority: 10 members voted in favour of approval, and only one abstained. In a dramatic conclusion, the committee chairman, Conservative Cllr Edward Baines, who had privately wished to vote against the plans, instead abstained, reportedly describing his action as being "a coward."

The approval, which was hard-won against planning advice, paved the way for the opening eight years ago. Today, as Aldi Oakham celebrates its anniversary, it stands as a testament not just to the store’s success, but to the power of local people coming together to shape their town.

View a complete set of construction photographs here:https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinbrookesoakham/albums/72157672441242153/

 

Digging the foundations

Rutland County Councils Planning Department received 100s of letters of support for the Aldi Planning Application. Here a few of those letters: 

Oakham Rugby Club have received a new kit, Aldi were a
a main sponsor.

The new store opened at 8.00am this morning with some
customers waiting since 10pm the previous evening.

The first customers started arriving at 10pm the night before

These were the first four at the door at 4.30am this morning

Among the first one hundred were a lot of men who had just
finished their night shift at a nearby factory.
A lot of the men filled trolley with bargain priced compressors
and tools. There was the opportunity to buy drones fitted with
cameras £39.99  

A customer from Ranksborough Caravan Park Langham was the
second customer her daughter the third. She won a blood pressure device.




















The first customer won a steam cleaner

Eventually the queue stretched out of the car park and around the corner.

Laura cuts the ribbon watched by the store manager Andrew Hayward
a former Somerfields employee here in Oakham and members
of Oakham Rugby Club.

Aldi staff handed out free cake and biscuits

Customers received gold envelopes won a bag of shopping, shown below.