BUSINESSES in Highams Park are calling for a large Tesco development to be approved in order to bring the ‘virtual ghost town’ back to life.

A letter from the Highams Park Traders for Regeneration (HPTR), written by Phillip Morgan of Henry Morgan Opticians and signed by 40 local traders, says the planned development will restore the area to its position as one the borough's principle shopping areas.

He said: “I have worked in Highams Park for over 30 years and along with my fellow traders we have witnessed the steady and unrelenting decline of our area, the worse of which has occurred over the last 15 years.

“This decline has turned a once bustling area into a virtual ghost town.”

“if the so-called ‘upheaval’ that is of concern to some allows Highams Park to regenerate itself as a community centre then this upheaval can surely only be viewed as positive.

“The improvement in facilities and creation of jobs that this development will bring...will help to address the dramatic social costs of worklessness, including health and crime, that has blighted the area in recent years.”

Residents’ groups oppose the development, which includes a 24-hour store and 253 homes off Larkshall Road, claiming it will destroy the ‘village feel’ of the area and lead to increased traffic congestion and pollution.

But HPTR insists the claims are ‘debatable’, but add that the affect of increased visitors is ‘a small price to pay’ for the 'benefits the proposed scheme will bring’.

The letter continues: “Our greatest fear is that if (Tesco) is forced to its development to another site near Highams Park site, our community will suffer the worst of those aspects, which are the basis of the objections, but none of the benefits.”

Chingford MP Iain Duncan Smith believes highams park will die if the scheme goes ahead, but Tesco insist it is ‘the only way forward for the area’.

The council’s planning committee is due to make a decision on the planning application tomorrow (October 13).

A previous application by Tesco was turned down by the government as it did not fit in with the surrounding area.