TESCO looks poised to win its battle to expand its Abingdon store by more than a quarter.

But traders fear a bigger Marcham Road site selling more non-food goods will put struggling town centre shops under further pressure.

Tesco's planning application involves demolishing the garden centre and expanding its current 9,275 sq.m of floor space to 11,765 sq.m an increase of some 27 per cent. There will also be 200 new parking spaces created.

The recommendation before Monday's meeting of the Vale of White Horse District Council's development control committee is that planning permission should be granted.

However, if councillors do agree to the application it would have to be referred to the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, because it is a departure from the council's development plan, that favours new shopping in town centres.

This could ultimately lead to a public inquiry.

The president of Abingdon Chamber of Commerce, Jill Carver, said: "Tesco is an out-of-centre development that is so near to the centre that I cannot believe that it will not be detrimental to town centre vitality.

"It is like having another town centre shopping area a mile away and with the extra bonus of free parking.

"Tesco should be accessible by a choice of transport including a bus service to and from the town centre but my preference for the sake of the town is that plans for an expanded Tesco should not be allowed."

The district council's retail consultant, Nathaniel Litchfield & Partners, predicts that any expansion of Tesco would not significantly damage retail trade in Abingdon town centre.

In a report, it states: "This is largely because there is a projected surplus in available expenditure on convenience and comparison goods shopping by 2011 for the Abingdon retail catchment which should sustain both the town centre and an expanded Tesco store."

Plans to revamp the town centre's Bury Street shopping precinct are in the offing.

But while the company that manages the precinct says it has concerns over Tesco's expansion plans, it insists it will not be formally objecting.

The impact of the expansion on water levels is another concern, as the store lies on land prone to flooding.

But the Environment Agency says it will not object, providing 'flood mitigation works' are put in place.

Ock Meadow ward councillor Mike Badcock is not so happy, however,.

He said: "I have concerns about the risk to the Ock Valley flood plain, even though the Environment Agency is happy if certain measures are adopted.

"Three years ago much of the car park was flooded. The water came up to the back gardens of some homes in Orpwood Way and people have concerns. There were fears some years ago when plans for a hotel and factory units were proposed, but they were later withdrawn."

The other Ock Meadow Ward councillor and mayor-elect Peter Green said: "I am concerned about the effects a bigger Tesco might have on town centre traders and flooding. I would like to see flood prevention measures fully discussed and monitored throughout so there is no risk of flooding in Abingdon."

There are worries, too, about increased traffic likely to be generated by a bigger Tesco store, but Oxfordshire County Council believes the proposed extension would "not have a significant impact" on the road network.

The county raises no objection, subject to an obligation in which Tesco would contribute nearly £500,000 towards a bus priority lane and cycleway along Drayton Road from the Caldecott roundabout to the bridge.

Two years ago the Vale of White Horse council sold the freehold of the site to Tesco for more than £13m.