'Bigger store needed' to plug gap during rebuild

Aspatria's only supermarket is being demolished and rebuilt

Plans have been submitted for a pop-up shop to help plug the gap while a town's only supermarket is being rebuilt.

Co-op is knocking down and rebuilding its store on King Street in Aspatria, Cumbria.

It built a temporary outlet on the nearby Queen Street car park to "combat the loss of services", but the firm said this was not enough to serve the town so now wants to build a larger version with delivery bays.

"It has been determined that the small temporary store cannot cater for the needs of the community," planning documents submitted to Cumberland Council said.

The nearest supermarkets to Aspatria are at least eight miles away in Maryport or Wigton.

Co-op was given permission for the rebuilding of the town's store in August 2024, with work starting earlier this year.

Under the newly submitted plans the existing temporary shop would be removed once the larger one is in place.

The planning application for a single storey unit of about 625 sq ft (58 sqm) is currently being considered by Cumberland Council.