HUNDREDS of people have joined a campaign to fight the arrival of a supermarket chain in their village.
Budgens has applied to convert a former car showroom into a food shop in Walton-on-the-Hill.
Chirag Patel, who runs nearby convenience store Walton News in Walton Street, fears it will threaten his livelihood and the village's character. He set up a petition which was signed by almost 350 people and submitted to Reigate and Banstead Borough Council last month.
He said: "We don't need a supermarket in a small village. There is a mini-supermarket in Tadworth and a big supermarket in Burgh Heath.
"I have worked hard to improve my shop and the people in the village have supported me in not having a supermarket."
The change-of-use application entails converting the 528-square-metre building into a shop and includes ten car parking spaces, but the number of jobs it would create and the hours it would open are not listed.
Members of Tadworth and Walton Residents' Association also think the Budgens plan should be thrown out, as they fear it will force other shops to close, and add to congestion in the village centre.
Chairman of the association's planning committee Gillian Hein conceded the view was not shared by all villagers.
"Some, particularly the younger people, can see the merit in having a bigger store," she said. "But we have our concerns about traffic and the impact on the village.
"The committee members were all against it. There is a concern that in the longer term, planning permission for residential use of the site [which has previously been granted] will be implemented, Budgens would go and we would already have lost shops unable to compete with it."
Donal Horgan, managing director of Budgens, said: "As with most Budgens stores, the owner will hopefully be an independent retailer who partners with Budgens to ensure good value through our Tesco price match and great-quality food.
"Employing local people, stocking local products and supporting local communities are key traits of all retailers who partner with Budgens so subject to the planning application being successful, we will be looking for a retailer to own and operate the store based on these values."
The borough council is due to decide later this month if the planning application should be granted.
