The fight to stop a supermarket being built in Tolworth will continue until Tesco withdraws its plans entirely, MP Edward Davey vowed this week.

He was speaking after the retail giant withdrew its plans for an 8,250 square metre superstore and 662 flats on the former Ministry of Defence site. It plans to resubmit its application later this year but Mr Davey said that will not alter the main objection he and many others have to the plan: the congestion it will cause around the area.

He said: "The basic idea of a supermarket there, in my view, is wrong.

"I welcome the withdrawal of the application by Tesco but we cannot necessarily say that is the end of the battle.

"That will continue until we have victory."

Tesco, which withdrew its application yesterday, wants to set up a working party to ensure maximum community involvement to get the best benefits for the area.

Corporate affairs manager, James Wiggam, said: "We are proposing major regeneration on this key opportunity site, so need to ensure the plans are the best they can possibly be.

"We have listened to local people and taken many points on board over the last 18 months, however further community involvement will improve the scheme even more."

The application also included 2,000 square metres of community use facilities, other retail units and the signature green bridge connecting the development to Tolworth Broadway.

According to Tesco, it would have been one of the most environmentally-friendly retail developments in Europe.

The application foundered when Kingston and Surbiton MP Edward Davey and Greater London Authority representative Tony Arbour both came out against the plans at a public meeting in November.

Mr Davey started a website called www.everylittlehurts.org.uk to galvanise residents against the plans.

He started a petition and spoke to the council about why he felt the application should not be allowed.

Thousands have signed Mr Davey's petition and another organised by Alexandra ward councillors.

A Tesco spokesman said all those involved in the consultation so far, and any other interested residents, would be invited to join the working group.

He added that exact changes for the future application were not known yet, but Tesco would look at the master plan, meaning a major overhaul of proposals is on the cards.

Email tolworthconsultation@fd.com if you are interested in sitting on the working party.

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