A NEW application by Tesco to build a controversial new store in Stourport was given the green light last night.

Tesco were seeking outline planning permission for a store, car park and petrol station at the former Carpets of Worth factory site in Severn Road.

A previous similar application has twice been given the go-ahead by Wyre Forest District Council planning bosses and recently saw off a High Court challenge attempting to quash the council’s decision.

The new bid was submitted after the start of the legal battle with Midcountes Co-operative Limited and introduced “minor changes” to the scheme.

Members of the district council’s planning committee voted overwhelmingly in favour of granting delegated approval to the bid subject to referral to the Secretary of State and a long lost of planning conditions.

The conditions included “extensive” highways improvements with the construction of a new pedestrian bridge and a new link road to Discovery Road.

A proposed amendment supporting Stourport Town Council’s fears concerning potential extra traffic in the town was narrowly defeated by seven votes to five.

The amendment called for additional traffic management measures in Mitton Street and for Lichfied Street to be turned into a cul de sac to avoid it becoming a “rat run”.

Mike Kelly, Labour group leader on the district council, said the committee was “between a rock and a hard place” because it did not have sufficient information to make an informed decision about the proposed amendments.

Conservative John Campion, Leader of the Council, said he agreed the application was “not perfect” but that the concerns raised over traffic management should be “taken forward” by Stourport’s two Worcestershire County councillors.

He added: “The only reason we are here tonight is because of the bully boy tactics of Midcounties Co-operative Limited because they don’t want competition from another retailer.

“A town the size of Stourport deserves a decent sized supermarket.”

He added that the development would create about 250 jobs which in “these austere times” should not “be sniffed at”.

The committee heard from several speakers objecting to the scheme.

Roy Harrison, a Stourport resident and professor of environmental health at Birmingham University, said there was an existing problem of poor air quality in the town which would only be made worse by the development.

Jim Perry, representing the Stourport small traders group, added: “To allow this development to proceed will result in Stourport becoming a traffic clogged ghost town.”

Margaret Jewkes, a resident of Astley Burf, said: “Don’t spoil out town and riverside by allowing Tesco to build this supermarket, especially where they are proposing it. Don’t let out town become Tesco-on-Severn.”