A NEW Sainsbury's store planned for Westhoughton will be open by Autumn 2009, company chiefs have announced.

The supermarket giant, which will build on land off Cricketers Way currently occupied by Westhoughton Cricket Club, is due to start work in April 2009.

Details of the dates were revealed by company bosses as it emerged the Secretary of State for Communities, Hazel Blears, had given the scheme her blessing.

That has come as a blow to local campaigners, who had hoped Ms Blears, also an MP in Salford, would rule that a public inquiry was necessary before a final decision on the proposals was made.

Westhoughton councillor, David Chadwick, who led the calls for a public inquiry on behalf of protestors, said: "I am very disappointed the planning application will not be subject to a public inquiry. I believe the planning process was completely flawed. The effect the supermarket will have on the town has been completely underestimated."

Sainsbury's was granted planning permission for a new 25,000sq ft store by Bolton Council in January.

However, the proposed store's size meant the plans had to be considered by Ms Blears. She reviewed the proposals and has since contacted Bolton Council to confirm she is happy with the plans. They will now be signed off by a Town Hall planning officer..

Sainsbury's is hoping to start work on the new £7.5 million store - which will be partly powered by three 30ft-high wind turbines - in April next year.

Westhoughton Cricket Club is to move to land at The Hoskers, Daisy Hill, before work on the supermarket starts. Its clubhouse, which was built in 1937, will be demolished.

Bill Crook, president of Westhoughton Cricket Club, said it was hoping to start preparing land for the new site in April, with the aim of the new club being open for the start of the 2009 season. Officials from Bolton Cricket League will have to inspect and approve the ground before the club can make it its official home.

He said: "If the ground is playable we will move. But if it isn't we will have to wait for another year."

Sainsbury's expects its new store to create 220 permanent full and part-time jobs when it is up and running and as well as jobs during the construction of the new building.