Contentious plans for Morrisons garden centre could get green light despite worries over traffic at "nightmare" Johnstone junction

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Controversial plans for a garden centre next to a Johnstone supermarket have been recommended for approval by planning chiefs.Morrisons has applied to build the facility in the car park of its Napier Street store.Council bosses reportedly wanted to push through the application months ago without any debate from elected members.But it will come before the communities, housing and planning board on Tuesday after three councillors requested it first be discussed in a public forum. Don't miss the latest headlines from around Renfrewshire.

Sign up to our newsletters here. Officers have still suggested plans be given the green light though despite concerns they could add to congestion on the busy A737.Some residents have also insisted the nearby family-run Gowanlea garden centre could lose vital customers to the well-known chain after being around for more than 60 years.Audrey Doig, who represents the Houston, Crosslee and Linwood ward where the supermarket sits, joined forces with Andy Doig and Emma Rodden to make sure the plans were heard by the board.She said the A737 junction is extremely busy at peak times and has already had too much pressure placed on it with the opening of the Paton's Mill retail park, which includes an Aldi, Home Bargains and Starbucks.She said: "Having another attraction for people to visit is just going to create much more traffic."It's already a nightmare at peak times around that junction with cars coming off the A737 and into Johnstone from Brookfield."Although it isn't a planning issue, I am also