More than 400 people from a community have backed independent traders in protest to the impending arrival of a Tesco store.
Businesses in Station Parade, Whitchurch Lane in Edgware, launched a petition last month in a bid to rally support against the arrival of the mega chain which they feel could harm independent traders who have been central to the community for decades.
Prakash Gandhi, who began running Canons Park Newsagents with his father 33 years ago, had more than 400 people sign his petition which was last week handed to MP for Harrow East, Bob Blackman.
Mr Gandhi said: "The petition went very well, and we had so much support from the community.
"We met Bob Blackman and shared our concerns, showed him our petition and we are waiting to see what happens next. Traders on the parade feel that Tesco would kill off independent trade, and we cannot let that happen."
Tesco is expected to take over the store on Station Parade, where John Feldman currently runs Printin, to replace it with a Tesco Express.
Mr Blackman, after meeting the traders, has written to Harrow Council asking them to clarify if Tesco would require planning permission to obtain an alcohol license. If that was the case, concerned neighbours could object to their application in a bid to derail the store arriving.
The Harrow East MP said: "I have also written to Harrow Police to see if they will request restrictions on the alcohol licence and I have also sent a letter to the Managing Director of Tesco, requesting a formal meeting between representatives of the company and the residents, to give them the chance to answer the concerns being raised.
"I hope to host this meeting as soon as possible.”
A Tesco spokesman said: “We know from experience that our stores give shoppers another reason to stay and shop locally rather than driving elsewhere and in many cases help other local businesses grow.”
Tesco also said that the arrival of the store would bring 20 new jobs to Harrow.
