B and Q Belverdere l to r Amit Patel and Robert Collins

Controversial plans to build an Asda supermarket in Belvedere will be discussed by councillors tonight (Thursday) after 375 people objected to the proposals.

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The development will divide the B&Q in Station Road and create two separate units, comprising of a smaller B&Q and the new 36,000 sq ft store.

Owner of Belvedere News Food and Wine in Gilbert Road, Amit Patel, 35, started a petition last year and collected letters of objection.

He said: “I’m hoping the council see sense and reject the development. We have plenty of other supermarkets in the borough.

“It’s going to have a detrimental impact on small traders.

“We can’t cope with the buying power that major corporations like Asda have.

“We know our customers by name and keep an eye out for each other. This sense of community will be lost.”

The plan would also result in a reduction of 13 car parking spaces, totalling 577, but the number of disabled spaces will double.

Opponents have also raised concerns about an increase in crime and vandalism, and the plans causing additional traffic, noise and pollution.

Three hundred new jobs – a mix of full-time and part-time posts – will be created.

A spokesperson for Asda said: “We’ve had to look at all these issues in detail and the council have recommended approval.

“We have shown we’ve got the plans and the roads can cope. We did a public consultation which shows high levels of support as well as opposition.

“Asda has received positive endorsement for the proposals following a public consultation, which showed that 90 per cent of respondents support the plans to bring an Asda to Belvedere.”

n The Planning Committee meet at the Civic Offices, Broadway, Bexleyheath, at 7.30pm.