Welcome to Tescoland: borough has 21 branches

A plan for a Tesco in Lisson Grove near Marylebone station was cleared by the Conservative council this week.

There are already 20 Tescos in the borough, including 10 in and around Marylebone. The new store was opposed by the Marylebone Society and many shopkeepers, as well as 1,200 locals who signed a petition.

Resident and Liberal Democrat activist Martin Thompson, who helped organise opposition to the store, said: "I am deeply disappointed. So many residents and shopkeepers have serious concerns. Why don't we just rebrand Westminster 'Tescoland' and have done with it?

"Not only has the council ignored so many local people, it has gone against its own officials. Its highways department warns the revised proposals for servicing the shop will cause traffic chaos and be a danger to children from the local primary school.

"This is a stupid decision that will be disastrous for the local economy." The site is only a few hundred yards from Marylebone High Street, praised as one of London's most diverse shopping streets in London - and already home to a Tesco.

However, Robert Davis, Cabinet member for planning on Westminster council, said: "This new store will make the shopping centre in Lisson Grove more attractive to residents and business and will help regenerate the area.

"We carefully considered all the feedback in relation to the scheme, and while we do recognise there was opposition to the application, the council did receive a number of letters in support. There was no strong evidence to support the claim that the proposed store would affect trade in the existing centre to warrant refusing planning permission."

He said Tesco had agreed to provide £100,000 towards improving local shopfronts, would fund roadworks in Hayes Place and CCTV cameras in Lisson Grove and would "work with local organisations to provide employment and training opportunities". Tesco heiress Dame Shirley Porter was Tory leader of Westminster in the Eighties.

She was found guilty of political corruption in the "homes-for-votes" scandal and after a High Court battle she was forced to pay the council £12.3 million.

Across London, Tesco now has a 31 per cent market share, ahead of Sainsbury's 29 per cent.

WESTMINSTER'S "TESCOLAND"