'Store will ruin village'

2:40pm Friday 5th September 2008

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Shopkeepers are furious over the latest plans to build a Tesco convenience store in Croxley Green.

The supermarket giant hopes to build an Express convenience store and seven flats on the site of the ramshackle Broads Motor Group showroom, in Watford Road.

Manager of the Spar store in Baldwins Lane, Ratna Siva, said: “We have collected 750 signatures from residents who oppose the plans.

“Shops will close down and staff will have to be released if this goes ahead.”

Wendy Low, who has worked for Londis on the same parade, for 15 years, said: “If that Tesco store is built, it will kill us – we are so worried about losing our jobs because it will definitely take our trade, most people are against it.”

Chris Gardner of Croxley Meats butchers, said: “I have been working here for 30 years.

“Building a Tesco convenience store would be a waste of time, it is not needed, there are plenty of shops here that cater for everyone, people here do not want it.

“They like Croxley because it is a village, if they want a supermarket, there is one five minutes up the road.

“It will cause so much more congestion in the area, it will be dangerous – there is a school nearby and it will force traffic down the back roads.

“They have the buying power, and although the quality of their meat cannot compete with mine, it will be cheaper.

“I am more concerned about their direct competition with Spar and Londis, because if these shops close down then there will be a boarded-up parade of shops, which will be unattractive.

“It would ruin Croxley Green as a village.”

Ruth Deans, who lives in Links Way, regularly shops at Spar.

She said: “I cannot see the point of having a Tesco, there are nearby supermarkets for a big shop.

“I would not use the Tesco store out of principle because I am concerned about these local shops losing too much business and being forced to close down.”

Robert McKenary of Robert’s Fruits said the Express store would be in the wrong location because of the traffic and there are enough shops to suit every need without Tesco.

Seeva Muresh, who operates the Shell Service Station, next door to the proposed development, said: “The Tesco store would cause a lot of trouble.

“The congestion is bad enough and will get worse, it would affect me directly because I would lose sales and would have to let staff go.

“I am self-employed and my forecourt sales would also drop because people using the store would park on it, even if they were not getting petrol.”

Tesco presented its plans, which were first announced in October last year, at a district council area forum in July, which was attended by more than 100 residents and traders.

Concerns were expressed about the dangers of extra traffic flow outside the Shell Petrol station and the potential threat to small traders.

Tesco representatives argued, however, the development would reduce traffic, boost local trade, provide 25 jobs, and offer better choice for customers.

Spokesman Mark Dodds, a consultant hired by the company, said a postal consultation with 5,000 local homes had revealed strong support for the proposals – even though 62 per cent of respondents objected to them.

Representations should be directed to the Development Control Committee at Three Rivers District Council by September 16.