More than 500 people have objected to plans to turn a car showroom into a Tesco store.

The shop in Luton High Street would create 20 new jobs, but a petition with 509 signatures plus 14 letters have been sent to Medway Council objecting to the proposal because it could cause “traffic chaos” with up to five deliveries per day and impact on residents and emergency vehicles.

Concern that anti-social behaviour could rise with people buying alcohol and loitering around the cash machine was also raised.

Ward councillor Tristan Osborne wrote saying the new shop would “significantly add to the risk of road traffic accidents”.

He added: “The development would require high levels of HGV movements for loading and unloading near to the core junction for access to Chatham, where it is already a bottleneck for traffic.”

Chatham MP Tracey Crouch said Tesco would also impact on other shops in Luton, adding: “Tesco would undoubtedly sell the same goods for more hours of the day, which would threaten the businesses already established.”

But 87 letters have been sent in supporting the proposal, particularly the creation of new jobs in one of Medway’s more deprived areas and the potentially lower prices.

The store would sell fresh fruit and vegetables, which are currently not offered on the street, which includes a newsagents, pubs and property surveyors.

It has also been argued that a supermarket there would make food shopping easier for the elderly and disabled.

A spokesman for Tesco said: “We will work with the local Jobcentre Plus to target those jobs at local people, and believe this store will complement the area.

“Being able to buy fresh products will be a draw to the High Street and encourage people to use their local shops, rather than drive into Chatham and get everything there.”

Market research from the company shows the people using the store will predominantly be in walking or biking distance.

There would be nine parking spaces on site and deliveries would be scheduled outside of peak motoring times.

Medway Council’s planning committee will give its decision at a meeting on Wednesday .

Officers are recommending approval. The store could be open within the first half of next year.