Send your news, photos & videos. Text NEWS SHOPPER and your message to 80360 or click here to email us » »
Top stories for Bexley, Bromley, Lewisham and Greenwich and Dartford and Gravesend, and elsewhere in south east London
and north Kent.
Register now to post your comments. It’s free, quick and easy.
£20 prize paid for best comment.
Sign up for News Shopper's free email bulletins and text
alerts.
Email your photos and videos or text keyword NEWS SHOPPER with your message/photo/video to 80360.
9:05am Wednesday 31st October 2007
SHOP owners and residents fear a supermarket giant may be planning to move into the neighbourhood.
Tesco has bought a site in Homesdale Road, Bromley, currently occupied by DIY retailer Focus.
Focus has confirmed the store, one of its 41 outlets sold nationally for £68m, has been bought by the largest supermarket chain in the country.
The DIY retailer has confirmed its store will close but could not say when this will happen.
According to the owner of the nearby Hollywood Cafe on Homesdale Road, rumours are widespread about Tesco moving into the area.
Ebru Diler, 29, said: "I know about it because the staff from Focus come for lunch here.
"The staff are quite upset because they only just got to hear about it.
"I first heard about it about six months ago but I didn't believe it until the Focus lot told me about it.
"It came as a shock because I hadn't thought of a Tesco around here."
She added: "It will be chaos because of the congestion and because there are already so many roadworks and so much traffic going to the nearby Waldo Road tip.
"It will affect residential people much more than us but my customers complain already because there are no parking spaces."
Small shop owners in Homesdale Road fear business will suffer if a supermarket opens in the residential area they currently serve.
Keystore Convenience Express owner Alfred Selvarajah, 45, said: "I have just extended this shop and Tesco is going to kill the business.
"We don't need a supermarket here, because there are others nearby and this is a residential area."
Mr Selvaraja, who has been running the shop for nine years, added: "I spoke to the council about it and they said there are no planning applications.
"But if Tesco uses the same building, they don't need planning permission because it is already a retail outlet."
Carmel Carmichael, a resident of nearby Page Heath Lane, said: "Focus trucks come up this road once a week but a Tesco might have delivery trucks coming once or twice a day.
"It is dangerous. People use the end of this road to cross the road to go to the school and the park."
The 35-year-old added: "It will be good in a way because it will be convenient, but bad because of the lorries bringing fresh produce."
A Bromley Council spokesman said: "We have heard the rumours about the new Tesco.
"Tesco hasn't approached the council formally about planning permission for this site.
"But Tesco wouldn't require change of use permission because the site is already used for retail.
"Planning permission for signs and any alterations would be open to consultation in the usual way."
A Tesco spokesman said: "We are unable to comment on rumours about whether or not we are opening a new store.
"We are always looking at sites for stores and we have a policy of consulting the public first before we make any planning application.
"We will be consulting the public before we go ahead and open any stores in Bromley."
Joe, Bromley says...
11:15am Wed 31 Oct 07
Pat, Tylney Road says...
12:05pm Wed 31 Oct 07
Me, Here says...
12:23pm Wed 31 Oct 07
Joe, Bromley says...
12:32pm Wed 31 Oct 07
Me wrote:Don't see the gas being a problem, as the gas works should be harmless. The smell of the gas, anyway, is not the gas itself, but an additive to make you aware if there is a leak. If there were problems with contamination, they wouldnt be alowed next to houses etc. Also SavaCentre in Bell Green is right next to a gas works.
Another point..... wouldnt it be irresonsible and dangerous of Tesco\\\'s to be storing/selling fresh food on a site which is literally within a stones throw distance of a huge gas works?? Surely that must break some kind of law?
The 'Original' Big Mo, Westerham,Kent says...
1:06pm Wed 31 Oct 07
Andy, Orpington says...
1:12pm Wed 31 Oct 07
mt, says...
2:48pm Wed 31 Oct 07
Joe wrote:thought that shut ages ago ?
Me wrote: Another point..... wouldnt it be irresonsible and dangerous of Tesco\\\'s to be storing/selling fresh food on a site which is literally within a stones throw distance of a huge gas works?? Surely that must break some kind of law?Don't see the gas being a problem, as the gas works should be harmless. The smell of the gas, anyway, is not the gas itself, but an additive to make you aware if there is a leak. If there were problems with contamination, they wouldnt be alowed next to houses etc. Also SavaCentre in Bell Green is right next to a gas works.
me me me, says...
4:33pm Wed 31 Oct 07
Michael, says...
5:29pm Wed 31 Oct 07
me me me, says...
7:26pm Wed 31 Oct 07
Denis, Bromley says...
9:07pm Wed 31 Oct 07
damion, get the hell says...
9:08pm Wed 31 Oct 07
m m m, says...
9:37pm Wed 31 Oct 07
Dave, Bromley says...
11:37pm Wed 31 Oct 07
cassie, bromley says...
12:00am Thu 1 Nov 07
anon, petts wood says...
7:30am Thu 1 Nov 07
Me, Here says...
10:04am Thu 1 Nov 07
bob marley, :) says...
11:43am Thu 1 Nov 07
cassie wrote:Oh well sh*t happens
The Tortoise Trust is calling for a boycott of Tesco stores because Tesco stores in China are selling LIVE turtles, tortoises, frogs and fish - Tesco kill them instore or customers can kill them at home. The Tortoise Trust says Tesco is "actively involved in inflicting some of the most extreme forms of animal cruelty imaginable. The level of suffering caused to turtles and frogs in Chinese markets is well documented.... They are maintained in-store under totally unacceptable conditions, and are killed in a grossly inhumane and barbaric fashion. These animals are essentially dissected alive. They have highly developed sensory capabilities, and without question suffer the most extreme pain and distress over an extended period..." Tesco seems to believe that compassion is a regional concept - please let Tesco know it isn't....full details can be found at www.tortoisetrust.or g
David, bromley says...
4:31pm Fri 2 Nov 07
cassie, bromley says...
9:13pm Fri 2 Nov 07
anon wrote:Oh god, not another kill the planet fanatic, bloody killers. f**k off elsewhere if you don't like it (the moon preferably...oh no you can't can you because this planet is the only one we can live on, given which those who don't want to 'save'it are obviously dangerously stupid).
Oh god, not another save the planet fanatic. bloody do-gooders. f**k off elsewhere if you don't like it (the moon preferably)
cassie, bromley says...
9:17pm Fri 2 Nov 07
Me wrote:Well it certainly isn't one from tortoise-killers Tesco!
Here here Cassie! My personal favourite was Michelangelo, i know i know - he was a little bit slow at times but he just luuuuuved pizza and thats alright in my book. Whats your favourite pizza Cassie?
cassie, bromley says...
9:22pm Fri 2 Nov 07
David wrote:You seem to have missed the fact that Tesco has shown it is happy to engage in extreme cruelty in order to make even more financial profit.
What a great idea!!! Tesco is a terrific supermarket and a 24 hours policy would be ideal for us workers in the area. They have my vote. Competition for cheaper prices and quality food is always welcome.
cassie, bromley says...
9:23pm Fri 2 Nov 07
David wrote:You seem to have missed the fact that Tesco has shown it is happy to engage in extreme cruelty in order to make even more financial profit.
What a great idea!!! Tesco is a terrific supermarket and a 24 hours policy would be ideal for us workers in the area. They have my vote. Competition for cheaper prices and quality food is always welcome.
cassie, bromley says...
9:30pm Fri 2 Nov 07
Dan, Orpington says...
5:16pm Sat 3 Nov 07
Andy wrote:No. I wonder what the Tory Chair of Planning will do now. This is his patch isn't it?
Lol, not just Orpington thats going to be a traffic nightmare then :P
t, local says...
10:50am Thu 8 Nov 07
i have one yes, not bromley thank god says...
6:04am Sat 10 Nov 07
Peter, S E London says...
11:30am Sat 10 Nov 07
cassie, bromley says...
2:36am Sun 11 Nov 07
O, Homesdale Road says...
12:33pm Thu 6 Dec 07
ME, Homesdale Road says...
12:37pm Thu 6 Dec 07
mt wrote:Right ON!!!
Joe wrote:thought that shut ages ago ?Me wrote: Another point..... wouldnt it be irresonsible and dangerous of Tesco\\\\\\\'s to be storing/selling fresh food on a site which is literally within a stones throw distance of a huge gas works?? Surely that must break some kind of law?Don\'t see the gas being a problem, as the gas works should be harmless. The smell of the gas, anyway, is not the gas itself, but an additive to make you aware if there is a leak. If there were problems with contamination, they wouldnt be alowed next to houses etc. Also SavaCentre in Bell Green is right next to a gas works.
cassie, bromley says...
12:00am Sat 8 Dec 07
colin j, says...
6:02pm Sun 30 Dec 07
Brian Wright, says...
9:23am Thu 31 Jan 08
Martin, Bromley says...
12:56am Sat 2 Aug 08
The Tortoise Trust is calling for a boycott of Tesco stores because Tesco stores in China are selling LIVE turtles, tortoises, frogs and fish - Tesco kill them in store or customers can kill them at home.
Tesco is putting greed for even greater profits over compassion and principle.
Care for the Wild and other groups are also campaigning against Tesco
this is the cruelty, the violence, that people who buy from Tesco are supporting - I ask people to consider whether such is really compatible with their ethics
Tesco has bought a site in Bromley currently owned by DIY store Focus
Ebru Diler, who owns a cafe nearby, says it will be chaos' if the supermarket sets up BR9558
When news happens – email newsdesk, call 01689 885703 or text keyword NEWS SHOPPER along with your news, pictures and videos to 80360.
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Looking for jobs in Bexley or Bromley?
Search Now »
Looking for a date in Lewisham or Greenwich?
Search Now »
Looking for a home in north Kent?
Search Now »
Looking for cars in south east London?
Search Now »
Me, Here says...
10:44am Wed 31 Oct 07