By Rachael Grealish

The recently elected MP for Whitehaven and Workington has responded to concerns and confirmed efforts are underway to bring a new Aldi store to Egremont.

Josh MacAlister – who became the new constituency’s Labour MP on the July 4 General Election – posted on social media to “assure people” he and Councillor Sam Pollen are “are working hard to get it [the Aldi store] delivered”.

Proposals, announced in February 2024, for a new Aldi store would see a new supermarket constructed on the former East Road Garage site at Wyndham Place, in Egremont.

Mr MacAlister addressed questions about whether the store “isn’t going to happen” but assured people of his positivity for it going forward.

In the social media post, he said: “I’ve had lots of messages about the new Aldi in Egremont from people concerned it isn’t going to happen so I want to assure people that Cllr Sam Pollen and I are working hard to get it delivered.”

He went on to say some “additional work” needs to be done before the plans can go before the planning committee, which he said are “based on requests from some of the consultees” and said the council are waiting on Aldi for a response.

“Our hope is it will go before the planning committee in September and then, if approved (and we hope it will be), things can move quickly from there,” he continued.