By Leeza Clark

SUPERMARKET GIANT Tesco is celebrating after councillors unanimously gave the green light to a controversial store in Dunfermline town centre.

Tesco’s plans for the 60,000-square-foot store on the site of Thomson’s World of Furniture in Bruce Street have split the community.

However, members of the City of Dunfermline area committee went with the recommendation of council officers and approved the plans for a new store, which will bring with it over 500 local jobs.

Tesco’s corporate affairs manager, Doug Wilson, said the company was delighted with the decision.

“It is the right decision for the continued growth and renewal of Dunfermline,” he added.

“Tesco has been working on this application for over three years. It was also recommended for approval by the planners and we are pleased members wholeheartedly backed the plans.”

He went on to say that it was ideal such significant investment should be given the go-ahead at a critical time for the growth of Dunfermline.

“Tesco is determined to invest in Dunfermline, bringing the whole community the benefits of a town centre store, additional parking and the estimated 30,000 shopping trips to the town centre every week.

“The location is ideally situated next to the new bus station, encouraging the use of public transport.”

Along with more than 500 job opportunities, the store would, he said, provide a boost to the town, its existing retailers and other tourism and leisure facilities.

Tesco, which already operates a giant superstore in the town’s eastern expansion area, originally submitted plans for a town centre store to Fife Council three years ago.

But the proposal has split local opinion with a number of traders welcoming the new store in the belief it will bring more people into the town centre.

On the other side, the Fife Federation of Small Businesses warned it could turn Dunfermline into a “Tesco town.”

The supermarket and car park—with 450 allocated parking spaces and over 250 additional public parking spaces—would take over the site occupied by the furniture store.

Around a dozen letters of objection were received by the local authority about the plans, many touching on the closure of the northern part of Bruce Street and the loss of neighbouring public car parks.

Objectors also felt the store would be too large, would dominate Carnegie Drive and would take trade away from other retailers because people would buy everything under one roof.

There were three letters from supporters of the plans, who said the new Tesco would serve people living in the north and west of town and create jobs.

Under planning consent, the company will have to deliver planning gains in the form of a public car park, £500,000 for transportation improvements and £135,000 for public art.

Tesco does not know as yet when work on the proposals will get under way.

Mr Wilson added that the company would continue to work with a range of parties to deliver the proposals.