I APPLAUD the letters New Store Will Lead To Traffic Problems by John Arnold (News Shopper, May 17) and Councillors Should Knock Store Back by Derek Dobson (News Shopper, May 3).

If residents are complacent it will allow Tesco and other developers to blight this fine residential area of Orpington.

In addition to Tesco applying to double the size of the proposed store on the car park site, developers are intending to jump on the bandwagon and build high-density affordable housing.

Plans were on view by Linden Homes in Orpington Halls on April 8 earmarking numbers 1, 3, 5 and 7 Orchard Grove for development and the housing being replaced by 36 flats with car parking.

If this development is approved, this problem can only spread with the remains of Orchard Grove and beyond earmarked.

Residents who regard the Tesco development as an improvement should think again, as the much-needed car parking for the High Street and retailing will disappear.

If the existing, much-needed car park is such an eyesore, why did the council not develop it for decent housing, leaving the character of the area and putting Tesco on a trading estate where it should be?

Deregulation of restricted parking in the area has been approved and it can only be a matter of time before there is chaos but is anyone out there listening?

At the last meeting of the Knoll residents, the majority of people objected to Tesco.

One must ask, how has this situation evolved? Has money talked or has complacency taken over?

RAY BERESFORD

Elm Grove

Orpington