Tesco at Little Lever. Bolton News report of the Decision

Green light for Tesco Store

A controversial plan for a new Tesco store has been given the go-ahead in Little Lever.

The move which was given permission yesterday paves the way for 100 new jobs and £60,000 which can be invested in the village centre.

Just 13 members of the public turned up to the site visit yesterday morning.

There have been hundreds of letters of opposition and support, six petitions and thousands of online comments.

After a short debate at the planning meeting councilors approved the scheme in principle, delegating the final decision to Bolton Council’s director of development and regeneration, Keith Davies.

Little Lever ward councilor and chairman of the planning committee Cllr Tony Connell said “ Traffic was always going to be an issue. Even those in favour have their reservations.

But this will create jobs for the area.

 Some people seem to have a particular downer on this supermarket chain and wouldn’t have a problem with a different one which to me seems bizarre.

Cllr Andy Morgan said supporting the scheme was a ‘no brainer’

Cllr Nick Peel added “ This has generated a massive amount of interest. People feel very passionate about their village centre and rightly so.

“All the people for and against this supermarket have one thing in common, they want the best for Little Lever

The meeting heard a new Sainsbury’s store in Westhoughton has had a positive effect on the town and the new Tesco could provide Little Lever with a similar boost. 

The Tesco store, which will have a floor area of 2,778 square metres, will be built on the site of the former Pennine Pets Factory, on the corner of Lever Street and Crossley Street. 

It will have car parking, a service yard and landscaping, and there will also be road alterations to accommodate additional traffic and ease congestion. 

This includes making Lever Street one-way, widening Ainsworth Road and adding a puffin crossing, replacing Church Street’s zebra crossing with a puffin crossing, relocating the bus stops in Ainsworth Road and Market Street, and adding traffic-calming measures to Ainsworth Road and Victory Road.

The existing Tesco Express, in Market Street, will close and its 49 staff will be relocated to the new store. 

Following the decision, objectors told councillors they had just voted for the closure of Little Lever village centre. 

Tesco corporate affairs manager Doug Wilson said he was delighted with the decision adding: “It has been a long process. There has been a lot of debate about this but it is about investment and jobs, which are very important in this economic climate. We have worked closely with officers and independent transport consultants and we feel the proposed scheme is sufficient.”