The delayed Lidl's supermarket development is well underway after – was it a year? – when the project looked very problematic due to asbestos found in the groundwork phase.
That issue has been resolved and a new contractor has swung in with a purpose. Enormous machines and excavations suggest progress will be swift.
Shieldfield and Sandyford locally has only premium price grocery outlets at present and during Covid this sharply revealed so-called 'food poverty' – access to variety was also and issue. Additionally, Lidl's U.K. have assured BtB that the finished scheme will include sympathetic landscaping and environmental friendly treatment.
Speaking of health, the old running track has been given a new life. What was simply a wonky circus of very old granular cinders is now being seriously ungraded.
Sometime ago an expensive Council hired P.R. official tried to do down 'Battlefield', describing it as 'threatening'. Such are the tricks developers get up to. However, one gimcrack scam ('scheme' in the jargon) after another has come and been beaten back. I am delighted to see both the conservation, natural interest and recreation value of this patch of 'Ouseburn green' grow in significance for local people and visitors year on year.
