Voices is the Dorset Echo's weekly youth page - written for young people by young people.
This week Neve, Megan and Erin from St George's Primary School discuss the prospect of a new Lidl store on Portland.
A new Lidl is set to be built near Osprey Quay in Portland - but is this a good idea?
Currently the nearest Lidl is in Dorchester Road, Weymouth. Lidl have said the new store could be offering more than 40 jobs and we believe this is a good opportunity for people who live near Osprey Quay.
It is also a good idea having a Lidl on Portland as it is less expensive than Tesco - the biggest supermarket on Portland currently.
The latest Kantar Worldpanel data shows Lidl's sales have increased year on year with a market share of 5.5 per cent in the UK food market.
It will also mean that Portlanders get a choice between where they shop.
This will be the first time that Portlanders have ever got to choose where they want to shop other than going off Portland.
Up until now Portlanders have had to do their main shop at Tesco where as now they would be able to shop at Lidl and would not have to leave the picturesque Isle of Portland.
However, despite the positives there are two concerns - Firstly if visitors are spending time at the popular Chesil Beach or Hamm Beach and did not have lunch then they would have to go to the fish and chip shop. However, if there is a Lidl, visitors may decide to go there which would take business away from a local business.
The other concern is that there is already an astonishing amount of traffic on the Chesil Beach Road which would get worse!
By Neve Samways, Megan Butler and Erin Steadman
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel