SHOPPERS will be more likely to stay in Prudhoe once the new Aldi store is opened, the town’s mayor has claimed.

Prudhoe Estates, a joint partnership between Advance Northumberland and Northumberland Estates, said last Thursday that contracts had been exchanged with Aldi for a 19,000sq ft space on Tyneview Retail Park. Plans for the retail park at Low Prudhoe were approved in September.

Prudhoe’s Mayor, Coun. Tracy Gilmore, welcomed the news.

She said: “I’m absolutely delighted. I think it’s going to be a fantastic addition to Prudhoe.

“At the moment people are driving out of Prudhoe to do their shopping. This will keep people in the town.

“There’s been a lot of people saying it will damage the high street, but I don’t think it will. People are doing it already – they shop on the high street and then do their main shop in either Blaydon, Hexham, or Consett.

“The majority of people I’ve spoken to are delighted and can’t wait for the shop to open. It will be fantastic for jobs and for people who live in Prudhoe.”

Further announcements about other retailers joining the scheme are due to be released over the following months.

Work on the site is planned to start in mid-November with the new retail outlets, as well as a drive-through restaurant and hotel, are expected to open towards the end of 2020.