THERE has been much concern that the building of the new Tesco store at Wellparks Retail Park, on the outskirts of the town could increase flooding in the area.

The Environment Agency says it has been working closely with Tesco to ensure that the new store development does not increase this risk.

The Agency says that wetlands and lakes have been developed to ensure that any surface water run-off during storms will not produce an increased flood risk.

It adds that a new type of paving, which allows water to seep through at a slow rate into nearby rivers rather than cascading off at speed, has also been used.

Ian Hooper, from the Environment Agency, who has been co-ordinating the project, said: "We have been in detailed negotiations with Tesco over the last couple of years to ensure that the development is fully in line with our recommendations, ensuring it does not increase the risks of flooding.

"Tesco took our advice and have even gone one step further by guaranteeing to maintain the wetlands and lakes for the life of the development."

In addition to reducing flood, Ian explained that the scheme was specifically designed to also reduce the risk of pollution and protect the native white clawed crayfish in the adjacent water course by acting as a silt trap.

This area, he added, also provides a permanent wet area that will attract common wetland species such as dragonflies and frogs and may, in the future, offer opportunities for the local community to help manage it for wildlife.

Recent national flood zone mapping by the Environment Agency, using a high-tech radar plane, revealed what planners were already aware of, that some of the development is on the edge of the flood plain, while some of it is in the flood plain area.

Tesco have also had to deal with a piece of contaminated land in the development area, which was on the site of a former chicken processing factory.

A small area of oil contaminated ground was identified on the site which could have caused pollution of groundwater or the nearby stream.

Tesco removed the most contaminated soils and continue to sample and monitor the groundwater in line with current legislation, which is required for any contaminated land site.