A BARRY businessman has said he hopes that Aldi are given the go-ahead to open in the town, explaining how it would provide a boost to local business.

COS group managing director David Emery has said his businesses will benefit from Aldi opening in Barry and could even create more jobs.

The council are due to discuss a planning application next month, with the supermarket having previously withdrawn its application.

Mr Emery said his business would be able to expand if the Vale of Glamorgan Council were to approve Aldi’s application to bring the store to its intended site at Ty Verlon, in Cardiff Road, Barry.

He said: “COS Group have been successfully based in Barry since 1968 and currently employs 36 people, many of them local to the town.

“Due to an increase in business, the group’s base of operations now needs to relocate to larger premises in order to effectively meet our client’s needs.

“Should Aldi’s application be approved by Vale of Glamorgan Council this would allow us to secure the necessary funds to move to a larger site within Barry, employing more staff in the process.”

COS Group own the site which would be sold to Aldi, should the store get the go-ahead from Vale planners.

Aldi’s development team recently welcomed Vale MP Alun Cairns to the Ty Verlon site to discuss the benefits of the project and the proposed relocation of COS Group in more detail.

Mr Cairns said: “COS Group is a major local employer, providing quality jobs in Barry.

“Their success, reflected in their need for more space, is great news for the town. I

"f Aldi are allowed to take on their current site, providing yet more local jobs, then the COS Group success story can continue.”

Aldi’s regional property director for South Wales, Rob Jones, said: “We were delighted to host Mr Cairns on site to talk through our proposals for a new food store and for our partners at COS Group to give reassurances about their intention to remain, and importantly grow, in the town of Barry.

The new Aldi store would employ up to 40 people at a rate above the National Living Wage whilst visually enhancing a key gateway site into the town of Barry.”

The planning application for the Aldi store is expected to be discussed by planners in March.