Concerns are growing about whether the arrival of a retail giant in a small parade of shops could spell doom for an entire community.

Kew has been rife with rumours that supermarket chain Tesco is planning to open a new set of doors in Kew Road - about five minutes walking distance from its town centre branch.

But mystery still surrounds which company will take over the former Matthiae bakery. A planning application submitted to Richmond Council last month requesting permission to merge two units on the site into one larger retail space gave no clue whose name would appear on the shop front.

Owner of Original Bathrooms, John Pidgeon, said: “When that happens it’s a supermarket.

“It’s going to need servicing and parking requirements and that unbalances the whole neighbourhood - and that affects businesses and residents.”

He claimed deliveries to the store could cause huge problems, as that stretch of road is governed by a bus lane which operates between 7am and 7pm and loading bay space is limited.

Mr Pidgeon stressed shop owner were not against one of the retail world’s “big boys” setting up shop but were simply predicting an “extreme pressure in parking”, including changes to the areas controlled parking zone, if the council rushes it decision.

He added: “We cannot say we can’t have Tesco here - it’s not for us to say but we can say a single unit will need a lot more servicing than two smaller ones.”

Parliamentary candidate for Richmond Park, Zac Goldsmith, has lent his voice to calls of caution from the road’s traders.

Mr Goldsmith said: “Community considerations should be just as important as technical ones for planning officers and the planning committee.”

A Tesco spokeswoman said the company would “not comment on rumour or speculation”.

• What do you think? Let us know by emailing imason@london.newsquest.co.uk, phone the newsdesk on 020 8744 4262 or leave a comment below.