Almost 100 jobs are to be created after the Island’s Tesco store was given the go-ahead for expansion.

Tesco Sheerness applied to Swale council last year to extend its store in Bridge Road.

The plans include extending the existing store, re-designing the car park, creating a new public space on part of Bridge Road car park and improving the store’s links to the high street, which involves demolishing the toilet block.

At a planning meeting on Thursday last week, Swale council gave permission for the work. It will create 92 new jobs. Some groups have raised concerns about the effect of an expansion on the town’s high street.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) objected on these grounds, as did the Sheerness Society, which is also worried about the removal of the railings around the Sheerness War Memorial.

Rubbish

The society claims the removal of them will lead to more rubbish being left in the area.

Keith Georgeson from the society said: “We are sad about what could potentially be a loss of business in the high street.”

The council recommended Tesco submit a detailed scheme of the plans for the war memorial area. Tesco spokesman Nick Gellatly said: “We’re very pleased about the council’s decision as it will enable us to improve the shopping trip for our customers and to ensure we’ll be able to improve the range or products available in the store, as well as the availability.

“We hope to be able to announce the timescale for work to take place shortly. We look forward to working with Jobcentre Plus once the construction timetable is clear so that we can ensure that local people are able to apply for the vacancies and are ready to start work once the extension is complete.”