LIVELIHOODS are on the line this week as the future of a proposed superstore is set to be decided.

After twice being refused planning application, Tesco decided to appeal the decision and dates were set aside for a public inquiry.

The inquiry kicked off today at the Civic Centre in Uxbridge, and is expected to last up to three days with a final decision to be made tomorrow (Thursday).

The site is proposed on Rickmansworth Road, Harefield, next to the Kings Arms pub.

Pauline Crawley, chair of the Harefield Tenants and Residents Association, said: "If a lorry parked on that road it would bring traffic to a standstill.

"It would have an impact on all four roads around it.

"Harefield Hospital receives blue light heart attack victims and if ambulances are held up it could have an impact on the survival rate."

Atul Sodha, who runs Londis in Moorhall Road, Harefield, is against the proposals from a business perspective, and will be speaking at the inquiry.

"I feel butterflies, this Tesco would rip the village apart, we have one or two empty shops already and it doesn't look good.

"They would be quadruple the size of any store, its scary to think what would happen if it got approved.

"Its like a big juggernaut coming towards us, I can't afford to lose 20 to 30 per cent of my business.

"I've been preparing for the inquiry with all of the other shop owners, I am reading up on facts to find out what to say if I am asked questions.

"I don't know why they are bothering appealing, its been refused twice by councillors already.

"We are getting a minibus to take people down to the inquiry, lets see as much support as we can and fight for our village.

"There is a real closeness in the community, fighting the appeal has actually brought everybody closer together."

The appeal is backed by campaigner Gay Brown, from Yiewsley, who has spent years fighting Tesco planning applications and now works for Tescopoly, a campaign group set up to fight Tesco.

She said: "The application is totally inappropriate, its far too big.

"There's already four supermarkets in the village for a very small population of people."

Tesco declined to comment on the inquiry.