A ongoing petition in opposition to planning proposals on the former Morrisons site in Hounslow West has secured more than 2,000 signatures and rising.

A2 Dominion is proposing to build affordable homes on the site in Bath Road, alongside a food store as part of the development .

But local residents are calling for a new major supermarket to replace Morrisons as they say the proposed unit is only a "small shop".

The petition, which has been created by a small team of Hounslow residents, reads: "We the undersigned local residents and people working in the Hounslow West area urgently wish to show our support for a new major supermarket on the previous Morrisons site."

Those behind the campaign have been spreading the word throughout the local community, securing more than 2,000 signatures on a petition which they submitted to Councillor Steve Curran on July 5 this year.

More than 2,000 people have signed the petition so far

One of the petition's organisers, Minoo Dhiri, of Staines Road, said: "We’ve received considerable interest and requests to join our petition from other residents in surrounding areas, including Heston and Cranford who also shopped at Morrisons and do not have access to a local supermarket.”

'Long forgotten'

The residents explain: "We strongly object to the proposed building of 177 flats with no parking in an area where we already have insufficient parking, and which is to have only a small shop unit beneath.

"These flats will cause a great strain on schools, hospitals and local GPs. We desperately require a large major supermarket on this site, the area is currently in decline.

"We regret we have long been the forgotten part of this borough."

Residents fear there will not be sufficient parking

The residents are being backed by Feltham and Heston MP Seema Malhotra, who has also expressed concerns about the proposal and called for a re-think.

"The closure of Morrisons has had a very negative impact on businesses and residents in the local area," she said.

"It’s clear that residents need to have adequate provision of supermarket facilities and not simply a metro style store.

"Older residents who used the supermarket can’t drive to other areas to go shopping and deserve to have a good local supermarket with wide range of goods at low prices.

"Other supermarket operators are willing to take on the site and it is not clear why their proposals have been rejected."

Residents are calling for a major supermarket to replace Morrisons

She also raised concerns about the density of housing causing a strain on local services, alongside a lack of parking, suggesting underground parking as a possible solution.

She said she the proposal is only "providing the legally minimum parking spaces for disabled residents."

Adding: "Without a better balance of access by car - for example underground car parking - local roads will be further impacted by additional congestion."

'Make better use of the land'

Morrisons closed its doors to the public in January 2016 and has since then remained a derelict site.

"The area has been neglected and subject to issues with anti-social behaviour," said Danny Lynch, group land director at A2Dominion.

He added: "This development is an opportunity to make better use of the land while addressing the shortage of good-quality affordable homes in Hounslow.

"There are also plans for amenity space for residents and a food store as part of the redevelopment.

"We have shared our proposals for the site with local people at two consultation events and were able to hear their views."

A2 Dominion is expected to deliver revised proposals in September.

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