PLANNERS have bitten the bullet" and given Tesco the go-ahead to expand. Tesco's plans to expand its store, on Salterton Road, by almost a third, were approved this week by district planners at the development control meeting. The supermarket giant's pro

PLANNERS have "bitten the bullet" and given Tesco the go-ahead to expand.Tesco's plans to expand its store, on Salterton Road, by almost a third, were approved this week by district planners at the development control meeting.The supermarket giant's proposal includes building a cafe, refitting the toilets, adding disabled parking spaces and moving the petrol filling station.Although the exact same plans had been refused last year, the creation of 135 jobs for Exmouth was too important to refuse the application again.A number of councillors said they did not like the loss of employment land or that the �100,000 contributed by Tesco to find new land was enough.However, Councillor Ken Harper said: "In this present climate I think we need to bite the bullet."Councillor Mark Williamson said: "A retail job is a quality job for that person, the family and the local community and I welcome the creation of 135 new jobs in the town."The application received 14 letters of support that welcomed the expansions, the jobs and the better range of goods.As part of the plans Glenorchy United Reformed Church will also be relocated.As part of the conditions Tesco will be contributing �150,000 towards the town centre regeneration, a further �100,000 towards enhancing or the townscaping of bus route 98.Work will also be carried out on traffic signals at Dinan Way and Bradham Lane/Littleham Road, and the site junction will be improved.Councillors warned though that, just because Asda had pulled out of coming to the town centre, future developments need not be deterred from setting up shop in the town centre because of Tesco's expansion.Cllr Williamson said: "I hope this application doesn't inhibit other applications from coming forward for the town centre where they should be."A Tesco spokesperson said they would begin work in a few months as soon as settling all legal loose-ends and the appeal it had in place challenging last year's refusal would now be dropped.