TESCO has been granted planning permission to convert a former community pub into a supermarket, the Chronicle can confirm.

Planning chiefs at Wokingham Borough Council have told the developer they can build the Tesco Express store in Silverdale Road, subject to conditions.

Councillors told members of the committee they don't want delivery lorries arriving during the school run, when more than 2000 children descend on the area each day.

A member of the public told the planning chiefs they want the Maiden Over to be a pub once again, but their wishes were not granted.

A spokesman for Tesco however told the committee they feel the new development will benefit the area once it’s operational.

Chris Elliot, a resident speaking on behalf of Facebook group Maiden It’s Not Over said: "The community want a multi-purpose licenced venue.

“We believe Maiden Erlegh needs a meeting place and a heart.

“There is no support for another convenience store.”

Speaking before the meeting, Earley Town and Wokingham Borough Cllr David Chopping said: "They have at last shown a bit of common sense and courtesy to residents. We are hoping and expecting to have a restriction on the deliveries so they don't come during school [run] times.

"Maiden Erlegh has around 1800 pupils and 300 staff all arriving between 8am and 9am.

"Add to that around 360 pupils and staff from Aldryngton primary school arriving between 8.30am and 9am.

“If you add the confusion of the lorries it must have separation for safety reasons."

Cllr Ken Miall, ward member for Wokingham Borough Council, also gave a presentation to the committee at Wokingham's Shute End offices tonight, supplying a series of photograph to the committee members.

Cllr Miall said: "This morning I attended the site just to monitor existing congestion.

“Within two minutes of arriving there was a road accident between two cars.

“The congestion builds up and gets worse and worse.”

Councillors were recommended to grant conditional approval by officers last month, and followed the recommendations, adding a series of conditions.

Tesco would have been able to develop the land through permitted development rights regardless of the committee's approval, but opted for a full planning application, which allows the committee to impose a series of conditions.

They include no deliveries outside the hours of 9.30am to 2pm and 4pm until 9 pm Monday to Saturday and no deliveries except for newspapers on Sundays.

Tesco will also provide 21 car parking spaces on the site, and deliveries will be dropped off through a one-way system from Silverdale Road.

Councillors voted unanimously to accept the proposals providing the conditions are met by the supermarket firm.

Cllr Simon Weeks, chairman of the committee, said: “The building is owned by Tesco and we cannot tell them what to do with their commercial building.

“Whilst its not something welcomed by community they have said they don’t want it I will be extremely surprised if members of the community don’t turn out to use it.

“By allowing planning permission it allows us to impose the appropriate controls.”

A spokesman for Tesco added: “We believe the proposal will have a sustainable and positive impact on the area.

“The scheme has been fully supported by the council’s representatives.”