A PROPOSED supermarket develoment in Hornsey would make the area a paradise for criminals and drug dealers a residents' group has warned.

In a letter to the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, the Crouch Hill Community Group says that instead of plans for a Sainsbury's store and a housing development the site would be better used for urban regeneration.

The proposals for the former Hornsey depot and former Thames Valley Water site were given approval by Mr Prescott only last month.

However, a 3,500-strong petition opposing the store was organised and worried traders lobbied for the plans, which are on a brownfield site in the Haringey Heartlands regeneration area, to be thrown out.

In the letter to Mr Prescott, the CHCG says: 'In our view there is some evidence that Sainsbury's proposal has paid insufficient attention to the social spatial dimensions of the development of both sites.

'The geographical isolation of the new housing development would make it a paradise for street crime, drug dealing, and vandalsim, especially as there is little to do for teenagers.

'It is also likely that gang wars will be developing between resident youth and newcomers.'

The group goes on to outline its own plans to turn part of the site into a nature conservation area.

This would, the letter says, 'safeguard existing urban wildlife; offer recreation opportunities; provide a recreation resource; and give a chance to forge community liks'.

A spokeswoman for Sainsbury's said: 'We're always very careful when we build new stores, but we certainly don't anticpate any problems.

'We are very much part of the communities that we serve, and we work with our neighbours, the police and others to ensure that problems don't arise.

'Our aim is to create a first class shopping facility for the community at large ? and that means providing a safe and comfortable environment.'