At a hastily convened planning meeting to decide the fate of Yiewsley the proposed Tesco superstore was put up for approval by officers, despite massive objections from local residents, councillors and the MP.

The meeting started with officers spending 45 minutes praising the development while residents had to sit and listen. This was followed by 4 petition objectors being given strictly 5 minutes to outline their detailed and technical objections. Any overruns were ruthlessly cut short by the Tory Committee Chair. The 2 petitions in favour as well as the Tesco representative were not subject to the same time restraints and allowed to overrun.

After a grilling from a few members of the committee the Conservative group gave in and agreed to recommend the plan for approval At this point the Councils legal representative stopped proceedings after it was discovered the plans were being changed "on the hoof" to accommodate basic errors in planning. The application was then suspended for another day in order to seek clarifications.

Cllr Mike Cox, who spoke as a petitioner representing local traders, said:

"This was the most shambolic planning I have ever witnessed. The officers had been clearly rushed into making this decision, objectors were ridden roughshod over and the whole democratic and planning process was compromised. This plan should now be withdrawn and Tesco told in no uncertain terms to sell up and go home. Your super store is not wanted and not needed"