CONTROVERSY has surrounded the new Tesco store and its supporting tunnel ever since the plans were unveiled.

Residents and traders in Gerrards Cross opposed the £20million scheme, which was due to be completed later this year.

It was initially refused planning permission in 1997 when South Bucks District Council threw it out, but was later given the green light by the Government.

In March 2002, planning chiefs approved an application for the rail tunnel twice the width of the Channel Tunnel for under the proposed Tesco store.

Later that year, Tesco unveiled its 35,000 sq ft development, including supermarket and 300-capacity car park.

The announcement was met with cries of "It's going to be hell" from some residents at a public meeting.

In early 2003, the food retailer, which called the tunnel and store one of the most advanced building projects of its type in Europe, announced plans to start work at the site in early 2003.

In October 2004, builders started to erect the tunnel amid shopkeepers' claims that the supermarket giant would poach customers and force independent retailers in the town to close.

Tesco hit back saying the store would encourage more people to shop in Gerrards Cross.

August 2004, and expansion plans tabled by Tesco to increase the store size by 40 per cent are later scrapped by the food giant.

Three months later Tesco announced its plans for an 800-metre long conveyor belt to carry building materials around the site.