PLANS to bring a supermarket to Chipping Sodbury have been approved, despite strong opposition from a campaign group.

At a meeting of South Gloucestershire Council’s development control committee yesterday, residents spoke passionately against building a Waitrose store and 170 houses on the former Barnhill Quarry site, arguing Chipping Sodbury is a ‘special’ town which should be left alone.

Sally Pattison warned the committee granting planning permission would be at ‘their peril’.

She added: "I feel very passionately that Chipping Sodbury is special and that the character of the town would be degraded by Waitrose.

"I believe Chipping Sodbury should stay a market town and I don’t want it to become just another supermarket town."

Patrick Williams, who is leading campaign group Save Our Sodburys, argued the High Street was already busy and with four supermarkets in nearby Yate, another one was not needed.

"Chipping Sodbury is a busy town," he said. "You only have to visit the High Street to realise that. But for many businesses they will face massive changes as many studies show the damaging effect supermarkets have on towns.

"Chipping Sodbury does not need a supermarket. This will be a massive change to its history and for many in the community it will destroy its future."

Concerns over flooding of the St John’s Way area, increased traffic, a reduction in parking spaces and noise and dust during construction were also raised by protestors.

Developers Chelverton Deely Freed has been working on the plans for nearly six years and director Paddy Fox said the company had consulted the community on many occasions to address people’s concerns. Added Mr Fox: "Over the years we have refined the scheme and worked hard with the local community.

"We now have endorsements from Natural England, English Heritage and the Environment Agency.

"We firmly believe this scheme will be to the benefit of Chipping Sodbury and its townspeople."

Mark Lloyd, chairman of Chipping Sodbury Chamber of Commerce and owner of Rounceval House Hotel, spoke in favour of the plans.

"We believe the development is crucial to the future development and propserity of the town," he said.

"Businesses in Chipping Sodbury are suffering financially as the town attracts very few visitors or tourism but we firmly believe Waitrose will increase footfall and expose new customers to our independent retailers.

"The town faces a very bleak future without Waitrose."

The planning committee voted 11 in favour of outline permission for the development, meaning more detailed plans will go before the council again in the autumn.

Local member Cllr Linda Boonn abstained from the votte. She said: "The town is split about this.

"A parish poll carried out by Sodbury Town Council gave a very split opinion."

But other councillors said they could see the benefits of a supermarket.

Cllr Colin Hunt (Con, Emersons Green) said: "I believe it will be a benefit to Chipping Sodbury.

"It will stop people from migrating down to Yate and I think it will attract people from further afield and will aid the whole town."

After the meeting, Mr Fox said he was pleased with the result but had expected a tighter vote. He said enabling works on the site would begin next spring and John Banham, development surveyor for Waitrose, revealed the store would be open in time for Christmas 2012.

Residents, however, said many of their questions remain unanswered and claimed the development had been approved against the wishes of the community.