Shopping giant Morrisons may have to wait almost three years to start work on its multi-million pound superstore in Thornbury.

The company has already been in months of talks with the Council since submitting its planning application last October over a suitable access for the development.

Morrisons has told the Council the store off Rushton Avenue could lead to more than 400 jobs.

But the improvements require land belonging to Thornbury First School which the company would have to acquire.

And chairman Councillor Syd Collard was adamant at yesterday's planning sub committee that the improvements must be done before work starts on the new development - even though the school would not relocate until the year 2001 under the current education review.

The sub-committee refer-red the application to the Council's transportation, planning and design committee saying it wanted the scheme to be approved.

But it will have to be sent to Transport and Environment Secretary John Prescott for a final ruling.

The sub-committee attached a list of conditions to its approval including limiting most of the floor space for convenience foods to protect the viability of the city centre and other shopping centres.

Members said they wanted construction of the car park before the store opened, landscaping and access for disabled people.

The committee was told 11 letters of objection had been received. The complaints were about traffic, road safety and the design of the building and effect on nearby homes.

People said they were also concerned about the removal of asbestos from existing buildings which would be cleared.

Objectors added they feared extra exhaust pollutants from traffic would lead to an increase in asthma cases.

Nursery club rejected

Proprietors of a children's day nursery lost a bid to install a portable building on their site to provide an after-school club.

A planning application was rejected after members considered a 26-name petition from residents.

The residents said there were no parking facilities in the area and they already suffered serious problems with the traffic.

Families who attended the meeting told councillors they could take no more.

Officers told the sub-committee that the nursery in New House Lane, Clayton Heights, currently took 18 children.

The proposed after-school club would house a further nine children and employ a further two staff.

They said the current operations attracted significant extra traffic and on-street parking and occupants suffered from noise and general disturbance.

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