TESCO has finally made a breakthrough in the St Albans district – with the go-ahead for a new village supermarket. Despite opposition to the planned giant supermarket in London Road, St Albans, there has been no such conflict over the new store in Wheatha

TESCO has finally made a breakthrough in the St Albans district - with the go-ahead for a new village supermarket.

Despite opposition to the planned giant supermarket in London Road, St Albans, there has been no such conflict over the new store in Wheathampstead which will replace the One Stop Shop.

Planning consent has been given by the district council for the new store which will enlarge the existing shop into a Tesco Express.

Tesco has owned the One Step Shop for about three years but decided to keep the former name. It decided on the change when it acquired the unit next door.

Lib Dem councillor for Wheathampstead, Chris Oxley, said: "This really is great news for the village. Many local residents have told me how much they look forward to Tesco doubling the size of the existing One Stop Shop and converting it to a full-blown Tesco Express with a much wider range of products."

He added: "Ever since the Fine Fare supermarket closed many years ago older residents and young mothers have had real problems in getting to a satisfactory supermarket particularly as Wheathampstead has such a poor bus service to St Albans.

"Although no date is available for the opening of the new shop, the very fact it now has planning consent should prove a great fillip for the village which, in the last week, has seen a coffee shop and an estate agents close."

Cllr Oxley has been involved in discussions with Tesco for more than four years and is optimistic that the store's opening will be the catalyst for a major improvement in shopping in the village in the future.