HOPES are high that BordonÕs new Tesco store could be open before Christmas after the supermarket cleared its last planning hurdle.

The townÕs three district councillors - Zoya Faddy, Michael Watkinson and David Kidd - could not hide their smiles of delight when members of East Hampshire District CouncilÕs north planning committee unanimously agreed to approve the detailed plans.

Tesco can now begin its preparations for building the new store on the Bordon Motors site in the High Street.

At last ThursdayÕs meeting Dr Watkinson said he was glad that there were no more road blocks to overcome and expressed his hope that construction work would soon begin.

ÒIt has been long overdue and I think Tesco will be working hard to try and get it up before Christmas,Ó he said.

ÒI also support the parish councilÕs view that the car parking area needs to have some greenery - letÕs have some trees to brighten it up a bit and I also think that the noise levels should be kept to the lowest possible level when the store is constructed.Ó

The store was granted outline planning permission - permission in principle - last October after a lengthy wait, and a planning inquiry, but details including building materials, design and landscaping still had to be approved.

But in a report to members, case officer Keith Oliver said that access to the site was agreed at the outline stage.

He said the applicant had agreed to contribute £25,000 to improve pedestrian links, and will install a signalised junction on the A325 to allow pedestrians to cross the main road more easily.

In addition, the applicant has agreed to contribute £20,000 to construct a new cycle route between Chalet Hill and Conde Way, with cycle facilities also being provided at the new store.

And £270,000 will go towards extending the 221 and 222 bus service, which serves the town.

ÒThese investments will ensure that the site, and Bordon and Whitehill generally, are served by pedestrian, cycle and bus facilities which provide a genuine alternative to the car,Ó he said in his report.

Mr Oliver asked members to remember that having Tesco in Bordon will reduce the number of shoppers travelling by car to other nearby towns with supermarkets.

The plans presented to the committee showed that the store will be built at the southern end of the site, with the service yard, and storage at the eastern end.

The area between the new junction and the store would be used for parking, while the area of woodland north of the junction would be retained.

Tesco has said that the store has been designed as a Òmarket hallÓ, which will enclose shopping facilities for the community.

ÒIt will have high levels of glazing to provide a light, open atmosphere that will allow views and life into the store from the High Street,Ó the committee heard.

ÒThe high levels of glazing, which allows more natural light to flood the building which will provide a better atmosphere for staff and customers and saves on the use of lighting.Ó

An in-store cafe will be located at the front of the store.

The applicant said a tower feature, located at the front corner, Òacts as a focal point for customers approaching the site and leading them to the storeÓ.

Although it fully supported the plans, Whitehill Town Council raised a number of concerns, but Mr Oliver said that Tesco will address them.

Included will be a special system to prevent the ÒleakageÓ of trolleys.

Mr Oliver told members that the electric system would stop trolleys from leaving the site, by locking the wheels if people tried to leave the site with the trolleys.

Surface water drainage from the site will be kept within the site as much as possible, which town councillors said would be ÒhelpfulÓ.

Yvonne Parker-Smith suggested that the applicant should be asked to install CCTV on the site to try to prevent vandalism.

The case officer felt that the store would probably install it anyway. but he agreed to raise it with Tesco.

Zoya Faddy said that she was ÒthrilledÓ the store is finally coming to the town.

ÒI thank the officers for negotiating the application,Ó she said.

ÒA lot of people were concerned with the locality but I would like to point out the amount of money which Tesco has invested in a walkway, a new cycle route and the current bus service.Ó

A spokeswoman for Tesco told The Herald that a timetable for the construction of the Bordon store was not yet in place, but said that it was hoped that work would begin as soon as possible.