COUNCIL planners agreed that every little helps when they gave Tesco permission to expand its Ocotal Way store.

The supermarket giant, which has twice seen applications to expand the store fail, was last night given the go-ahead to add an extra 15,000 sq ft to its existing floor-space.

The expansion will mean that the supermarket will become one of the biggest in the South West.

But it was not all plain sailing. Concerns were raised about extra traffic and the negative impact of shopping on areas such as Gorse Hill, Cavendish Square in Parks, and in Swindon town centre.

During a debate that went on for nearly an hour Maurice Fanning (Lab, Gorse Hill and Pinehurst) said: "I am against this applic-ation.

"Gorse Hill is a very special place in as much as all the businesses there are at, or very near, tight margins and it's crucial that nothing untoward happens to upset that fine balance.

"This is one development too far and the impact on the traders will be such that it will mean some fail."

Tesco argued that a bigger store would ease overcrowding and congestion and Dave Potter, Swin-don Council's head of development management, said he was satisfied that there would be no impact on surrounding shopping areas including Swindon town centre.

It is estimated that around 50 new jobs will be created because of the expansion.

But Gorse Hill traders in particular think a bigger store will deal them a hammer blow.

Although they are set to benefit from a £30,000 cash injection to improve shop fronts, traders there said that they felt a sense of inevitability about the application.

They have been fighting to scrap a controversial set of four-way traffic lights since December 2002 claiming that it leads to long tailbacks.

Tesco representative, Justin Mills, reassured planners that the increase in floorspace would not affect trade elsewhere and that the company had pledged to improve local infrastructure, such as bus routes and contribute £15,000 towards modifying the Shrivenham Road junction. In spite of last night's news It is still possible for Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's government department to call in the application for final decision.

Giles Sheldrick