A campaign against a new cut-price supermarket coming to Epsom is gathering pace with more than 200 objections being lodged and more than 50 residents turning out to a roadside protest.

From January 6: Aldi unveil plans for controversial new Epsom store on former Dairy Crest site

Protesters held placards reading “Say ‘No’ to Aldi”, “Not Here Aldi, Down There”, or just “No” aloft outside the proposed site of a new Aldi between Alexandra Road and Church Road, Epsom on a cold, wet morning on Sunday, January 31.

Concerned residents believe the former Dairy Crest site is an “entirely wrong location” and would exacerbate traffic problems in the town.

Between November 1, 2009 and October 31, 2014 there were 24 recorded accidents at junctions in the immediate vicinity - two of which were serious.

The supermarket giant has owned the Alexandra Road site (pictured below) since 2013 and distributed almost 7,000 leaflets announcing plans for it to nearby residents in July last year.

Your Local Guardian:

It said the majority of nearly 1,000 responses were positive and believe the new store would create between 40 and 50 local jobs and enhance food choice and competition.

James Cookson of Church Road, Epsom, was one of the protesters gathered on the corner of Alexandra Road and Church Road on Sunday.

He said: "I'm not opposed to an Aldi store in Epsom, it's just an entirely wrong location for a variety of reasons.

“Traffic, parking, impact on the conservation area are amongst them. I'd like to see the council put this site to residential use."

Sarah Hall of Alexandra Road, Epsom said: "I am terrified about traffic jams. It will gridlock Upper High Street.

“The local roads were never designed for something like this.

“I am worried that the council will be won over by window dressing like traffic lights but this will just prevent traffic flowing even more."

Your Local Guardian:

An artist's impression of what the finished Aldi store in Alexandra Road, Epsom could look like

A spokeswoman for Aldi said: “Creating the right proposals for Epsom is as just as important to Aldi as it is for local people. We want to ensure that customers can access the site safely and with ease. We have worked with the council to tailor-make a store with the sensitivities of the site in mind”.

Epsom and Ewell Borough Council are due to make a decision on the proposals at its planning committee meeting at 7.30pm on Thursday, March 10.

To view the plans, search for 15/01346/FUL on the planning portal on the council’s website.

What do you think? Get in touch at craig.richard@london.newsquest.co.uk