Belsize Lane: ‘extremely narrow, only allowing one car through at a time’

• THE first thing that we, as local residents, knew that the Co-op was intending to come to our Belsize Village was when we saw an alcohol licence stuck with tape on the boarded-up XO restaurant, (‘Save our village’ pleas over Co-Op’s supermarket plan for Belsize Park, August 23).

We have had no contact from the Co-op. They haven’t asked us if we need a supermarket in our village. The only contact they have made is to the Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors by phone, requesting a meeting.

I understand from the Conservative councillors that the Co-op have since cancelled that meeting. We want to support our local shops and we value them. If a supermarket comes to Belsize Park, the Late Late Store, Roni’s, Crescent Fruiterers and the pharmacy will suffer.

I checked out the Adelaide Road Co-op and they sell exactly the same as our shops sell, threatening their livelihoods. In fact the Late Late Store is part of the Nisa Group which is the same as the Co-op so they will be competing against themselves.

Belsize Lane is extremely narrow, only allowing one car through at a time so it will be impossible for delivery trucks to get by the long flow of school traffic.

Residents organised a community information table on Saturday so they could explain the problems to the village. No one we spoke to wanted a supermarket in the village. No one is seeking a job. I just wonder how much research the Co-op has done?

The residents would love representatives to come and meet our lovely traders, Alon, Ali, Dave and Mathew and see faces of the folk whose lives they are going to affect.

LINDA GROVE
NW3