The centre of Chorleywood could grind to a halt if plans to build nine flats above a new shop go ahead.

Budgens in Lower Road could be demolished to make way for a replacement shop and nine flats.

But furious residents have left streams of comments on Three Rivers District Council’s planning website objecting to the proposals.

Neighbours are concerned about increased traffic in the centre of Chorleywood and over-development in the area.

Some even fear residents could be forced to drive to Rickmansworth to do their weekly shopping if Budgens were to leave the village.

Annette Naughton, executive committee member at Chorleywood Residents Association, said: “There is not going to be enough parking for the flats which means those cars will be parking in Lower Road, which were supposed to be for the shoppers.

"If there is not going to be a loading bay, they (delivery lorries) are going to be in the middle of the road unloading cages, and that will take a good hour and no-one is going to be able to get past.

“I cannot see how it is going to add anything apart from more flats in Chorleywood and we already have lots of flats in the area.”

Ms Naughton fears this could then have a knock-on effect on other shops in the area because shoppers would not be able to park.

There would be just one parking space per apartment, according to a traffic document submitted as part of the planning application.

It goes on to say: “The parking would be such that each of the apartments would be limited to one allocated parking space. The additional parking space would be marked for 20 minute use for deliveries.

“The four parking spaces to the rear of the site would be for employee use, two spaces for each shop.”

Since the initial plans were put in for two residential units, this has now been revised by the developers to one shop.

Kathy Walton, of Orchard Drive, said: “I think it would be a great pity if Chorleywood lost its supermarket.

“It must bring other people into the centre of Chorleywood who would then go on to use other shops.

“I am just concerned about what will go there if Budgens does go. We do have a good mini-supermarket at the other end of Chorleywood. We have a good greengrocers and a good butchers.

“But what we do not need is another estate agent, charity shop or coffee shop. We have lost our bank and our building society. The whole character of Chorleywood is changing. How would Chorleywood cope without it supermarket for a year?”

Budgens has been approached by the Watford Observer for a comment on their future at the site. The developers of the project – White House Design – has also been approached for a comment.