This is Kent --A NEW Tesco store and a one-way traffic system could be good for Paddock Wood, the new business chief of the town has said.
New chairman of Paddock Wood Business Association Claire Holly told the Courier she is "pro-change" as long as it is beneficial for the town.
Having taken over the reins from House of Portmeirion's Paul Smith, Mrs Holly, 36, has set up a working party of traders to look into the future needs of the town.
She said: "We are now looking at a project to create a plan for our town.
"If you come up with a vision of how you want your town to look, it can be adhered to by the borough council.
"I am pro-change, I think if the community can be involved, that's a good thing."
Last July the Courier revealed Tesco had bought the leaseholds of small businesses on a parade of shops stretching from George's Cafe to Paddock Wood Kebab House, as it intended to bring a store to town.
Last month the site was earmarked in Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's draft Sites Allocation document, a blueprint of areas earmarked for housing and development.
Mrs Holly said: "I know the prospect of a new Tesco store is concerning to people, they don't want them to come in and put in a massive supermarket.
"When I read the document, I thought it could look nice.
"It mentions space for other smaller shops and it could work well when you consider we have that piece of scrubland there at the moment.
"I do not have a problem with Tesco coming here so long as it benefits the town.
"I was pleased the document also mentions the need for a community centre.
"If we are having these 500 new homes then they will put in a primary school too."
The mum of one also said that changing the road layout in the town centre could improve traffic flow in the town.
She said: "I think a one-way system could be a good idea, a lot of people stop on the double yellow lines and it becomes a bottleneck as cars try to pass each other.
"Parking enforcement officers don't seem to pick up on it.
"If it was one-way it would be safer for pedestrians crossing."
Mrs Holly is also known for her work in establishing Play Paddock Wood, a group that raises funds and campaigns to improve the facilities for children in the town. She said: "I want to make a positive difference for our town.
"Having formed Play Paddock Wood, I used to think all this stuff happening was done by someone else.
"Then I realised we are a group of mums, raising £200,000 in funding and we are the ones making a difference in a community I love."
Mrs Holly runs her own accountancy firm from home and was previously treasurer for the association after joining in 2011. Reported by This is 15 hours ago.