New concerns about flooding around the Tesco site have placed a big question mark over the expansion of the Abingdon store.

Tesco must have believed it was odds on to get its way when it appealed against rejection of its planning application. Planning officers at the Vale of White Horse District Council had said there was no reason to reject the scheme but councillors overruled them.

In those circumstances, developers usually get what they want and the council-taxpayer ends up picking up the bill for a costly inquiry.

In that sense, the Vale has got out of jail thanks to a change of opinion on the part of the Environment Agency.

The news will be welcomed by opponents of the scheme, but it is a little early to start celebrating. As we report, Tesco is planning to meet the Vale and the Environment Agency, and you can bet they will be looking at ways of increasing flood mitigation measures so as to overcome the objections.

The question is: "Is the heightened flood risk so much greater that Tesco cannot overcome it?"

That, and nothing else, will ultimately decide whether Tesco gets its way or not.