The Teddington Society will not oppose plans for a new hotel in the town.

Society members met with the owners of Park House, in Station Road, and representatives of Travelodge, who have applied to turn the office block into an 113-room hotel with a bar for guests.

And following last month’s meeting, Douglas Barrell, of the Teddington Society, said there would be no formal opposition.

He said: “We support the scheme in principle.

“We will be making sure the points they addressed in the meeting come to fruition but I get the impression they are not a hostile outfit, I may be wrong.

“Travelodge are on the side of Teddington people, they are trying to run a business.

“They want a hotel where people can sleep at night, as residents want.”

The plan would see the seven-storey office block remodelled and a nearby production studio demolished and replaced with a new four-storey building with a restaurant, which includes a space for outside dining, and offices.

The smaller building would be nothing to do with Travelodge and let separately by the building’s owners The plan has drawn a mixed reaction with businesses welcoming it but many residents fearful of parking and traffic problems.

Mr Barrell said Travelodge had confirmed it had no plans to charge for parking at the hotel and had 76 parking spaces for the 113 rooms. He said bosses had told society members it expected many of its guests to come by public transport with Teddington station so close.

He added the firm had signed a 25-year lease and expect to start work on the site in March 2011. It should be completed in 12 to 15 months.

He added: “There will be no deliveries between 8pm and 8am and they tell us average occupancy is 85 per cent.

“They also expect £1.5m to £2m to be spent by their guests in the town and expect many guests to be visiting friends and family nearby.

“Our view is that this is not going to be detrimental.”