A controversial £32million super-market has been approved for Accrington.

Objectors said it ‘sounded the death knell’ for trade in the town but councillors voted to approve the Eagle Street scheme, which would create 500 jobs.

Tesco has also agreed to give £412,000 towards a landscaped open space between the store and the railway station.

A further £450,000 has also been pledged towards schemes such as Accrington’s new bus and station.

Objectors said Tesco would kill off existing business and turn the town centre into a ‘ghost town’. Others feared the increase in traffic would create town centre gridlock.

Coun Michael Pritchard said: “This scheme is a nail in the coffin for Accrington.”

Simon Prideaux, chief planning and trans-portation officer, said highways authorities reported there would be increased traffic, but not enough to warrant a refusal.

Tesco pledged to reduce traffic problems with scheduled deliveries to the store and signal improvements at Blackburn Road’s junctions.

Ray James from the Arndale Shopping Centre said Accrington was struggling to compete with other nearby towns.

He said: “New Look have said unless they see change they will cease trading here, and Marks& Spencer have put on hold their £1 million refurbishment.”

Neil Skitt for Tesco said the store would claw back money being spent in other towns.

He stressed that 50 per cent of the jobs being created would provide long-term employment.

Chairman of the meeting Coun John Griffiths said there were compelling arguments both for and against.

But he added the extra jobs would be a definite boost for Accrington.

His proposal to approve the scheme was voted in by councillors.