Plans for an Asda store in Melksham are one step closer after proposals for a £25m store in Bradford Road were referred to Secretary of State Hazel Blears.

The plans have been referred under the Town and Country Planning Shopping Development direction.

The application for the supermarket on the Countrywide site off the A350 in Melksham was given the go-ahead earlier this year but due to the size of the development the planning committee at West Wiltshire District Council called for a further report to finalise conditions before referring it to the Secretary of State.

A meeting to debate the report was held last Thursday night.

Councillors was decided that the plans would be given final approval as long as the application is not ‘called in’ by the government.

But the planning permission is subject to conditions and the completion of a section 106 agreement which will see Asda contribute £500,000 towards a bus service from the store to the town centre and around £600,000 towards highway works around the store.

It was also agreed Asda would provide an environment and odour programme in view of the store’s proximity to the Melksham waste water treatment works.

Cllr Rod Eaton, deputy mayor of Melksham, said: “We would ideally like to see the permission settled without referral but we understand the committee’s legal position on this.

“We are delighted that the committee saw fit to ease the conditions and terms of referral to bring this 24-hour service store much closer to fruition along with the substantial benefits to our town in these difficult times.

“Melksham Town Council have consistently supported the Asda development for the benefits it can bring to our town and continue to do so across the political parties.”

Cllr Eaton said conditions suggested by council planners to limit opening hours were removed by the committee last Thursday.

He said this would mean the store could now open 24 hours a day on six days a week, opening for six hours on Sundays.

He believes the move will bring the development closer, resulting in up to 300 new jobs for the town.

He said: “It is expected that there will be over £4 million in spin-off trade for the town.”