Sainsbury's Shrewsbury expansion approved

Sainsbury's has been given the green light for a multi-million pound expansion of its Shrewsbury store, despite opposition from town traders.

Amended plans submitted by the supermarket giant, which bosses say will create 60 full and part-time jobs, were approved by majority decision at Shropshire Council's central planning committee yesterday.

Shrewsbury Town Residents Association and Shop in the Loop had objected to the application on the grounds of it creating a danger to town centre trade.

And Councillor Andrew Bannerman, speaking at the meeting, said that new supermarkets nearly always created a net loss of jobs because of the impact it had on town centre trade.

He added: "The traders feel beleaguered and betrayed and want a commitment from the committee that they support the town centre as proclaimed in the council's core strategy."

But members were asked to consider just the amendments to the plans, such as the sales area reducing in size and the fact Sainsbury's would be putting in £120,000 to improve bus services and the town centre.

Christian Wakelin, Sainsbury's regional development executive, said after the decision: "We've made these changes whilst keeping all the benefits that this extension would bring to the local community, so we're delighted that the council has approved of the revisions."