PLANS to expand Tesco's massive store in Royston have been reluctantly supported by town councillors. Members of Royston Town Council's planning committee said they had little choice but to support an application as it was a modification" of plans alread

PLANS to expand Tesco's massive store in Royston have been reluctantly supported by town councillors. Members of Royston Town Council's planning committee said they had little choice but to support an application as it was a "modification" of plans already approved by North Herts District Council. But councillors were annoyed that the superstore had already begun "enabling work" on the 2,369 sq-metre extension before plans have been approved. Cllr Lynne Berry said: "I would like to say Tesco, and anybody else that puts in a planning application, should actually wait until they've got permission for the building works before work starts." Royston mayor, Cllr Bill Prime, asked the deputy clerk to record his objection to the plans. Speaking after the meeting, he said: "The reason being is that I was very cross with them for starting work before getting the plans done. "The fact that they put the plans in the week they are starting the work smacks of something untoward to me." Cllr Berry also said she was worried about the supermarket branching out further into white goods. "I think they are taking over more and more and I would seriously like to think they would consider Royston before their own needs," she said. "We have got two shops in Royston that sell electrical goods and I feel they will lose out with Tesco expanding." But Cllr Chris Barton said that having looked at the scale of the extension his "reservations are dwindling". - The Tesco planning application is likely to be considered by North Herts District Council's area committee on April 26.