Outraged residents determined to see a Waitrose built in Wimbledon have formed a campaign group amid claims Merton Council’s opposition against the supermarket’s proposals is set in stone.

The council leader, David Williams, believes redevelopment of the derelict B&Q building in Alexandra Road will “suck the life” out of Wimbledon’s shopping area owing to its location - 400m from the Broadway.

But a growing number of residents and opposition councillors are claiming his stance, and failed efforts by the council to convince Waitrose to develop elsewhere, is “undemocratic” and scuppering the current proposal.

Alexandra Road resident, Saab Nazarelly, who created the Waitrose for Wimbledon Campaign website, said: “I’m not afraid to express my view and these politicians are employed by us and should listen.

“There’s no doubt that the majority of the people think that Waitrose will be of enormous benefit to the area.

“If the council doesn’t want Waitrose to come to this site, or even come to Wimbledon at all, what’s going to happen to the derelict Alexandra site?”

But Coun Williams said his views had no bearing on the local authority’s impartial planning process and added there were possible applications in the pipeline from other parties interested in the site.

He said: “The fact of the matter is we are yet to receive a planning application but when it does come in it will be judged against the usual criteria.

“I want to see a Waitrose in Wimbledon but I’d prefer it to help the existing shopping centre by bringing people in.

"It’s my view that that won’t happen with the Alexandra Road site.”

Waitrose executives are expected to submit a planning application in the next fortnight.

For more information about the campaign, see http://sites.google.com/site/wimbledoncampaigngroup/

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