Epsom’s MP has slammed a budget supermarket chain for bulldozing a much-loved ex-pub without planning permission to replace it with a new store.
The ex-Organ and Dragon pub, in London Road, Ewell, was knocked down last month.
Lidl bought the site from KFC in February and said it planned to demolish the historic building and build a food store.
But neighbours voiced their concerns that the site could lay barren, blighting the surrounding area, following demolition, if Epsom Council refuses planning permission for a new store - a distinct possibility given KFC's plans were rejected on traffic grounds.
Chris Grayling has written to Lidl to complain.
He said: "It is a pretty poor message to send to the local community when it has taken over a site for which retail planning permission has just been refused and it then knocks down the building without planning consent.
"I struggle to see how a KFC takeaway would have generated more traffic than a supermarket.
"Clearly there will be a planning battle over this.
"It is not appropriate and is poor behaviour on Lidl’s part to say the least."
As it was: the ex-Organ and Dragon pub before it was shut and demolished
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