A supermarket is set to be built on the site derelict and vandal hit pub in Oldbury – despite a petition containing almost 1,300 signatures against the development.

Plans were approved last night, with the Sandwell Council planning committee giving the nod to plans put forward by Danish supermarket giant Netto to build a store on the Kings Highway pub site in Hagley Road West.

The scheme will also see a further two units built on the land and is set to create at least 25 jobs – most of which will go to people living in the area according to the company.

The pub has stood empty for about a year but has been badly vandalised and fire damaged, to such a degree that councillors were told the building would have to be pulled down whatever the proposal for the site.

A report which went before members sitting on the planning committee said a total of 21 letters of objection and a petition containing 1,282 signatures have been received.

Councillors heard that residents were concerned about potential traffic problems.

The plans were approved with an array of conditions including the development is not brought into use until the highways improvements have been carried out.