Waitrose has confirmed its commitment to opening a supermarket in Kent later this year - creating 140 jobs.

The store is being built as part of the Repton Park development, near the Drovers Roundabout at Ashford.

Waitrose director of development, Nigel Keen, said: "Waitrose places great value on becoming part of a town’s fabric and we have worked hard with the developer to ensure this scheme is one that best meets the needs of Ashford and the surrounding area."

Business and council leaders say Waitrose's decision shows that confidence in Ashford remains high despite the recession.

Jo James, chief executive of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, said such is the momentum of Ashford’s development that it would take "extremely severe circumstances" to have an adverse effect.

She said: "Ashford has so much going for it that I cannot believe things will grind to a halt."

According to the investment promotion agency Locate in Kent, more than 1,000 jobs were created in Ashford in 2008 across a number of sectors. These included retail, construction and property, business services, leisure and tourism, engineering, financial services and ICT.

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