Above: The mature T1 lime tree on Sandbrook Way, and an excerpt from the official Sefton Council Tree Officer objection report for application DC/2026/00739.
Aldi’s proposed store in Woodvale is a welcome addition to many, yet it must not come at the expense of sacrificing Ainsdale’s local green heritage.
While Aldi plans to fell '18 trees' on Sandbrook Way, one specific tree is boldly challenging their chainsaws.
Public affection for the graceful mature Lime tree, which has stood proudly outside the old Brook building for decades, is well known. Aldi bosses have the full capability to make minor alterations to their blueprints and design around this local landmark - if they have the will to do so.
As a former member of the Southport Tree Gang back in the 1970s, I know a rushed landscaping job when I see one. Sefton Council’s official Tree Officer completely agrees.
In a newly released public report for application DC/2026/00739, the officer has issued a formal objection, stating that axing this high-quality, 40-year-life tree is "neither justified nor necessary" and directly violates Local Plan Policy EQ9. By removing established trees, developers create a "Biodiversity Deficit."
Under modern Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) regulations, paying to offset this damage off-site will cost Aldi significantly more than simply integrating our existing green canopy into their car park design. Individual lime trees often live for 150 to 500 years, while some ancient specimens can survive for 1,000 to over 2,000 years.
Off-site mitigation is expensive, legally complex, and logistically difficult. Our Message to the Planning Committee is Simple: We do not need to block the supermarket, but we must force Aldi to redraw its current ecologically - unsound layout.
TAKE ACTION NOW: Look at the official Council objection report, contact your local ward councillors, and demand they use Policy EQ9 to save the Sandbrook Way Lime tree - or/and any other trees possible!
This is NOT a choice between a new supermarket or a tree(s). Anyone pushing that bogus troll line is displaying total ignorance of modern architecture. This is about asking a multi-billion-pound corporation to move a handful of car parking spaces a few feet to the left.
Aldi does this across the UK all the time. In places like Walsall, Aldi was forced by local planners to redraw their layout to protect mature frontage trees.
If Aldi can adapt their blueprints to save trees in the Midlands, they can do it right here on Sandbrook Way. We 'can' have the new store and what's left of our local nature!
How to View and Comment on the Live Application:
Direct links to specific cases on the council website expire quickly and will throw a "Session Timeout" error. To view the official files safely, use these simple steps:
Click directly onto the main Sefton Council Planning Portal. https://pa.sefton.gov.uk/online-applications/
Copy and paste the case reference number DC/2026/00739 straight into the search box at the bottom of that page and hit search.
From there, you can view the full Tree Officer's report under the "Documents" tab or hit "Make a Public Comment" to lodge your own objection!
We don’t need to choose between a modern supermarket and a green environment. A few adjusted parking spaces is a tiny price for a multi-billion-pound giant to pay to keep Ainsdale green.
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