Sainsbury's plans for a supermarket in Hartham Lane have been approved by the District Council's Development Control Committee.

Councillors went against advice from their own planning officers and warnings from Hertfordshire Highways that the development would lead to serious traffic problems.

The decision has provoked dismay amongst residents and councillors critical of the development. Cllr. Peter Ruffles (Bengeo) said "I am frankly astounded that the committee should so lightly condemn the centre of Hertford to pretty well all-day disfigurement and snarl-up on the roads leading to Old Cross".

Hertfordshire Highways have said that there is no physical solution to the problems presented by access to the site.

However, Cllr Beryl Wrangles (Kingsmead), who voted in favour, said "We have to decide what is right for Hertford. Most of the traders in St.Andrew Street were in support. We don't want Hertford to become a ghost town".

In a letter to The Hertfordshire Mercury, Cllr William Ashley (Hertford Heath) wrote "There are substantial benefits for the town in employment, river improvement, preservation of listed buildings, increased competition and so on. Traffic congestion is a major issue but if it is not controlled Sainsbury's will be the loser".

Councillors will meet on 11th February to discuss planning conditions associated with the store.

The company's first application for a 33,000 sq.ft store was submitted in January 2008 but later withdrawn after planning officers recommended refusal.

The new proposals feature a smaller store with a sales area 25,000 sq,ft, comparable to Tesco's existing store of 23,936 sq,ft. The number of car parking spaces has also been reduced from 268 to 240.

Sainsbury's bought much of the McMullens site in February 2007 after the brewery downsized their operations, now occupying just the south-east corner of the site.

Initially, Sainsbury's staged an exhibition and consultation at The Corn Exchange in June 2007, which saw plans for the store on display and representatives of the company on hand to discuss the proposals with the public.

Have your say and tell us what you think about Sainsbury's coming to Hertford.

See our September 2008 coverage of this issue.

See our July 2007 coverage of this issue.

Supermarket Expansion Hertford is set to become a battlefield as two leading supermarkets vie for customers

Hertford Brewery The Hertford Brewery was the home of McMullens for over 100 years