SAINSBURY’S last night got the go ahead to convert the B&Q story in Hull Road into a 60,000 foot supermarket, despite more than 2000 objections from local residents and traders.

City of York Council’s planning committee met yesterday to debate the supermarket giant’s planning application, and heard from traders and parish councillors worried about the plans, as well as Sainsbury’s own planning staff who argued the development would bring jobs and stop the site falling empty when B&Q leave.

Graham Kennedy, of the nearby Inner Space filling station on Hull Road, urged the planning committee members to turn down the application - which he said had genuine planning reasons not to go ahead - including what he said would be a disastrous effect on traffic in Hull Road in the area.

“The road is jammed all the time. You will create a nightmare, and people will hate you,” he said.

Mr Kennedy said that between petitions and planning objections, 2,500 people had spoken out against the plans.

Johnny Hayes, of Bishopthorpe Road Traders Association, also spoke against the scheme, saying the Bishopthorpe Road traders were joined by shops on Hull Road, Badger Hill and Osbaldwick in opposing the plans and fearing for their own businesses if the new Sainsbury’s opens.

However, the supermarket’s town planning manager, Sue Smales, said research showed supermarkets competed against other supermarkets, rather than smaller independent shops.

She said that, while other supermarket chains are seeing shrinking business and superstore closures because of changing shopping habits, the proposed Hull Road store was small enough to avoid those threats.

And while the long term future could not be predicted, Sainsbury’s had no immediate plans for a petrol station on the site. But despite the objections, councillors said the law restricted their considerations to planning matters.

Cllr John Galvin said: “We have to look at this in terms of the planning law, and if this is turned down the applicant will appeal, and I would put £50 on the line that they will win the appeal and there will be costs awarded against this authority.”

He urged campaigners to write to the Secretary of State asking for a planning inquiry on the case. With the committee vote going in favour of the development, the case now goes to the Secretary of State, who can call it in further inspection.

A Sainsbury's spokeswoman said the company was delighted by the council's vote to grant planning permission.

"The application must now be referred to the Secretary of State, before planning permission can be issued," she said.

"We will then work closely with B&Q to begin the process of converting the building into a foodstore and will keep everyone updated throughout the next stages."