The Tesco store in Belvedere will close, it has been revealed today (Jan 28).

The 17 shop employees at the Express outlet, in Picardy Street, were informed this morning that the store would close on March 15.

It is the second Tesco store in Bexley to be hit by the company's fall in fortunes.

The news comes weeks after the retail giant revealed it would not be building a outlet in Albion Road, Bexleyheath, or Lowfield Street, Dartford.

Mr Lewis announced on January 9 the company it would shut 43 unprofitable stores and shelve 49 planned developments but it was believed the Albion Road site was the only Bexley store to be affected. 

Bexley Conservatives tweeted from their @bexleynews account on January 15: “The Council has secured a commitment from #tesco that the company's current plans willl not impact other Bexley stores.”

It is believed other Bexley Tesco outlets are safe from closure.

CEO Dave Lewis said in a letter today: "Our store will stay open until the March 15 and following its closure we will continue to do our best to serve our customers through our Northumberland Express, Erith Express and Welling Upper Wickham Express stores and our dotcom service."

Erith and Thamesmead MP Teresa Pearce told News Shopper: “I was worried when Tesco withdrew from the Bexleyheath plans that other stores were also at risk.

"I was contacted today by Tesco to be told that the Tesco in Lower Belvedere is closing in the next couple of months.

"My thoughts are with the staff at that store some of whom have worked there for many many years as they worked at the Co-operative store that was there before Tesco took it over.

"Tesco have said they are talking with the staff individually to see if they can employ them in other Tesco stores and I sincerely hope they can.”

A spokeswoman for the store's trade union USDAW said: “This is devastating news for the staff who have worked hard to make the store viable during a difficult time for the company.

"This will also be a shock to the local community.

“We will now enter into full and meaningful consultation meetings on this proposal, where we will look closely at the company’s business case for the closure.

"Our priority is to maximise employment within Tesco, seek redeployment opportunities for members, where possible, and to keep job losses to a minimum."

Have you been affected by the store's closure? Call the newsdesk on 01689 885 721 or email hwood@london.newsquest.co.uk