TESCO is blaming unforeseen delays to repairs to Pitsea flyover for its need to extend permission for a temporary car park.

Ongoing repairs to the flyover could be scuppered if Basildon Council does not approve the latest bid for extra time for the 111-space two-storey metal car park at the front of the store.

Essex County Council is having to pay cash to Tesco to rent part of its car park at the eastern end as a base for contractors and their equipment during the flyover work.

Yesterday the Echo revealed County Hall is to begin a seventh phase of work estimated to cost £950,000. Tesco first got a year’s temporary permission in October 2007 to allow for the work.

The firm has been critical of what it describes as unforeseen delays to the work and has applied to extend the temporary planning permission for this structure four times since 2008, each time blaming “overrunning repairs”.

The latest application asks for permission until the end of February.

A letter in the latest application from Tesco’s agent DPP said: “It has become necessary to retain the existing decked car park for a longer period due to the overrunning of the county council highway maintenance works to the fly-over. These works have resulted in the loss of some existing parking spaces within the current Tesco car park.”

Technically Basildon Council could refuse this, meaning County Hall could be without a base for its contractors.

Despite Tesco’s complaints County Hall has repeatedly denied the work has overrun.

A spokeswoman said: “We cannot comment on why Tesco is requesting an extension.

“The work has not been extended as it forms part of the phase five scheme, which also includes work to other areas of the flyover.

“Currently work is being carried out to phase five and six in regard to the continuing refurbishments.”