The new development was going to include a Waitrose store

Sidcup Waitrose petition to be handed to London Mayor’s office

Robin Cottle, Reporter Wednesday, August 1, 2012
10:40 AM

A petition with more than 5,500 signatures on it will be handed to Waitrose as Bexley Council tries to persuade the retailer to build a store in Sidcup.

Council leader Teresa O’Neill presented the document to Kit Malthouse, the Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Enterprise, opposite the site on the high street which Waitrose had planned to move into.

She was joined by James Brokenshire, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, and councillors for the town.

Cllr O’Neill said: “Kit has kindly agreed to present the petition to Waitrose because of Mayor of London’s support for our work to revive Sidcup High Street.

“This recognises that the opening of a new store like Waitrose would help to attract shoppers and further investment.”

The supermarket chain had planned to move into the ground floor of the site of the old Black Horse, underneath a Travelodge, but pulled out in April when bosses were unconvinced the store would be a commercial success which led to a rethink in their expansion plans.

Mr Brokenshire said: “It’s quite something to see this level of local support for the opening of a new supermarket.

“If Waitrose are in any doubt about the likely level of support for a Sidcup store, this petition should certainly help put this beyond doubt.”

More than 1,200 people also signed an online version of the petition.