'You did this' - Laois woman who petitioned for a new Lidl gives thanks

A Laois resident who petitioned to get planning approval for a Lidl in her town, has thanked everyone following the success of the planning application, while Lidl Ireland is promising to reward the town with community investment.

Laois County Council has approved a plan for a Lidl store in Mountmellick, creating 30 jobs and what will be their third Laois store, after Portlaoise and Portarlington.

During the nine month planning period, local resident Laura Prodan had started a petition urging locals to show their support, and it got over 800 signatures. While the petition was too late to be sent as a planning submission, it got Lidl's attention as they continued to submit further information documents requested by the council.

Laura Prodan has now closed her Change.org 'Lidl in Town' petition, with a thanks to everyone.

"YOU DID THIS! "Every signature represents a voice that chose to stand up, speak out, and be counted. It reflects individuals who took a moment from their busy day to support something bigger than themselves. That collective action is powerful—and it is what made this petition successful. This success belongs to you. Thank you for being part of it," the Mountmellick resident said.

Lidl Ireland is promising to reward the town for their loyalty.

“We owe a sincere thank you to the people of Mountmellick for their exceptional support throughout this journey, specifically the 800 plus residents who championed our arrival through the local petition. Their constructive engagement has been a driving force behind this project, and we are fully committed to rewarding that enthusiasm with a state-of-the-art shopping experience and continued investment in local community initiatives.”

"The planning application followed significant local support for the retailer to establish a presence in the town. A public petition, which garnered 804 signatures from local residents, underscored the community's desire for increased shopping choice and the competitive pricing that Lidl offers," the discount retailer said. 

The Mountmellick streetscape including a garage and four houses, that will be replaced by a Lidl supermarket.

In her petition, Ms Prodan had said that “In Mountmellick, County Laois, many of us face daily challenges due to the lack of competitive grocery shopping options. Our community has been eagerly waiting for Lidl to go ahead with opening a store here, a step that is not just about shopping convenience but about revitalizing our local economy."

Locals warmly welcoming the planning approval include Mountmellick Tidy Towns who had worked voluntarily to improve the appearance of the derelict garage. They said "Christmas has come early".

"This will bring jobs and a new lease of life to our town and surrounding area," the group said on Facebook. 

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“For too long, we've had to travel to neighboring towns for affordable groceries, which drains our community of resources and redirects money that could be contributing to our local economy. When we shop elsewhere, we are indirectly supporting the economy of another town while our own struggles to flourish. The opening of a Lidl store in Mountmellick would ensure that the money spent stays within our town, promoting growth and stability.

"Moreover, the potential job opportunities that a new Lidl store would generate cannot be underestimated. Our town needs employment opportunities. This would provide jobs to local residents, reducing unemployment and providing steady incomes which, in turn, boosts the local economy further. Mountmellick deserves to grow and thrive," the Mountmellick woman had said.