The Sainsbury's "machine" is infuriating Barnes residents again by seemingly pushing ahead with plans to set up shop in the village.
Members of the White Hart Lane Action Group (Whag) and prospective MP for Richmond Park, Zac Goldsmith, are accusing Sainsbury's CEO Justin King of breaking his word by making it financially impossible for another retailer to buy the site from the supermarket chain.
With over 4,000 people united in opposition to the White Hart Lane store, last year Mr King agreed to sell the lease to the site provided Sainsbury's would not make a financial loss or see a competitor take it on.
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Mr Goldsmith said: "The agreement was verbal, but there was no ambiguity."
According to Whag representative David Rossiter, the group spent all of last winter and the early part of this year searching for a replacement retailer - finding success in the form of an organic grocery shop that could match the yearly rental fee of £128,000.
Both Mr Rossiter and Mr Goldsmith were shocked to discover that Sainsbury's rejected the offer, allegedly claiming walking away would result in a "loss of opportunity" and upping the price to £250 per square foot.
Mr Goldsmith added: "The sum equals a staggering £1million a year.
"What Sainsbury's has done is totally unethical. It has misled us, wasted our time and put two fingers up at the community. This is straightforward trickery."
Mr Rossiter added: "Our campaign is starting locally again and if necessary we will launch a boycott campaign."
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