More than 100 people gathered to stop a supermarket site being redeveloped into high-rise housing for up to 3,000 people.

Campaigners are opposed to developer Weston’s “Toxic Tesco Towers” scheme to build 1,360 homes in blocks of up to 22-storeys on the Tesco site in High Road, Goodmayes.

The application is at the pre-application stage of the planning process, but opposition group Reclaim Redbridge warn of increased air pollution, overpopulation and traffic if the scheme, which includes a primary school, goes ahead.

A meeting at St Paul’s Church Community Centre on Friday was attended by GLA member Keith Prince and Redbridge Council’s deputy leader Cllr Kam Rai.

According to organisers, up to 30 people had to be turned away from the meeting as there was no room in the hall for more people.

An online petition has so far signed by more than 1,400 people.

Barkingside resident Kartik Parekh, the meeting’s chairman, said: “The dissatisfaction of Weston Homes’ proposal to build approximately 1,400 homes was clear from virtually everyone that had attended.

“A number of concerns were highlighted by the residents, from air pollution to traffic congestion; from sewage issues on the Tesco site, highlighted by a former Goodmayes Tesco employee, to the London Fire Service being unable to deal with fires in high rises over 22 floors.”

The plans include an underground car park with more than 600 spaces, for which opponents are calling for security measures to keep residents safe.

Guest speakers and panellists included Meenakshi Sharma of anti-overpopulation campaign group Ilford Lives Matter, hospital campaigner Andy Walker and Neighbourhood Watch chairman Mark Glazer.

Cllr Rai told the meeting that opponents needed to present relevant and legitimate planning grounds on which the proposals could be rejected.

Campaigners also questioned the borough’s local plan, which sets out areas and policy for housing and industrial development across the whole area until 2030.

Residents were concerned about the number of homes stated as due to be built over the next decade, which is listed at more than 17,000.

Habiba Alli, of Chadwell Heath, organised the meeting.

She said: “We wanted real answers from the council.

“Let’s look at what’s going on in Redbridge, they’re not doing enough, they’re trying to pacify the opposition but if we don’t do anything now it will just be waved through.

“Why does the council not inform residents as to what’s going on? Everything we included in the presentation for the meeting was facts.”

Ms Alli added she and other campaigners opposing the plans have been accused of NIMBY-ism (not in my back yard-ism). She denies this.

She added: “It isn’t NIMBY-ism if you want a better future for your children.

“This is just the beginning. When we give politicians our vote, we give them our trust.”

A Redbridge Council spokesperson said: “Weston Homes have submitted a pre-application to the council which many developers and applicants use to help inform a formal planning application.

“This stage is still open and has not been concluded and should a formal submission of a planning application be made, further consultation with residents and key stakeholders will have to take place to ensure they are fully consulted.

“The Tesco High Road site is located within an area that has been allocated for new housing growth and this was widely consulted on and subject to independent scrutiny by the planning inspectorate, which included testing the issues of intensification, density, traffic movement and other planning related matters.

“At this stage there is no planning application, and should Weston Homes submit one it will be assessed against all the policies within the local plan and the national planning policy framework and residents are encouraged to get involved and have their say. ”