TESCO has been given the green light for a controversial superstore off Great Harwood’s main shopping street.

The supermarket giant has also agreed to allow town centre shoppers to park in its 300-plus space car park for free for up to three hours if visiting other shops.

Hyndburn planning committee approved plans for the new 4,900 metre square store in Queen Street, Great Harwood, at a planning meeting today.

The decision was welcomed by Tesco but bosses are keeping their fingers crossed that appeals will not be lodged against the approval.

Tesco has proposed building the store on the site currently occupied by the Metflex rubber components factory in Queen Street, with the company finding another site in the town.

The initial application was submitted in 2007. Hyndburn Council approved the plans but the decision was called in by the government planning authority and a public inquiry was held earlier this year.

Tesco’s previous application was refused by Government inspector Phillip Ware who concluded there was no longer a need for the store in the town after a £32 million Tesco store off Eagle Street, Accrington, was approved following a separate inquiry.

Speaking at the meeting, Coun David Mason said: “Is the store needed? Yes. Is it necessary? Yes. Is it desired? Yes.”

Coun Lynn Wilson said: “I voted against this as I had concerns but since then I’ve done a lot of home work.

“Most of the shops in Great Harwood are charity shops or hairdressers and they don’t feel that it will do them any harm. We are in an economic downturn and this will create jobs and we will retain Metflex.”

Budget supermarket Aldi, which has submitted an application for a store in Great Harwood, had asked for the Tesco application to be deferred so they could be decided together.

Deborah Hayeems, corpor-ate affairs head for Tesco north west, said: “It is great and we are pleased the plans have been approved.

“We are keeping our fingers crossed. We have support from the community and we want to deliver the store.”