CONTROVERSIAL plans to bring supermarket giant Waitrose to Chandler's Ford have been given the go-ahead.

The decision to let the store be built at Fryern Hill was taken at a heated meeting last night, attended by hundreds of residents. After almost four-and-a-half hours of debate, members of Eastleigh Borough Council voted in Waitrose's favour by 24 votes to 12.

Chairman of Fryern Residents' Association Malcolm Mathews told the Daily Echo: "We are very concerned because it's obvious there has been a whip. The Liberal Democrats have been told how to vote. We are going to take advice as to what action we take now. It was, as people have suggested, a foregone conclusion. The fight will go on."

But Keith House, leader of the council - which received 247 letters and a petition with 803 signatures objecting to the plan - welcomed the decision as providing "a first class store for a first class centre in Chandler's Ford".

He added: "It is the right decision for Chandler's Ford to make sure that it remains a prosperous and successful town centre. "The council has worked very hard with Waitrose over the past three years. We recognise that we still have a lot of reassurances to give to those residents that live close to the store."