Residents living next door to a derelict pub have refused to sell their homes to Lidl as part of its plans to create a new supermarket on the site.

Lidl, which bought the old Organ and Dragon site on London Road, Ewell, from KFC in February, plans to demolish the historic ex-watering hole and build a food store.

People living nearby are concerned 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 that KFC’s plans were rejected on traffic grounds.

In anticipation of this potential hurdle, Lidl has approached two homes on Elmwood Drive, Ewell, located behind the site, in a bid to buy their homes.

There was confusion whether this was to create a bigger site for a store - which Lidl has refused to comment on - or to create a new access route for a new store.

But a Lidl spokeswoman ruled out the latter: "This isn't correct. Lidl is not proposing to take its access from Elmwood Drive, rather we are proposing to access the site off London Road, as per the existing arrangement."

One woman who lives next to the site said she received a letter asking whether she would be interested in moving and asked for a telephone number.

She said: "I told them absolutely not. 

"It would be a nuisance to have a Lidl here, but this is what big companies do."

Another woman who was approached said: "It offered to buy from us at 10 per cent above market value to which I just laughed.  10 per cent is nothing, you would not get anything in their area.

"My family aren’t going to relocate for Lidl."

Residents of Elmwood Drive said they are "confused and irritated" at the lack of information from Lidl about its plans.

What do residents think?  Koel Mukherjee went to find out...

Reverend Paschal Opara, pastor at the Overcomers Faith Centre in Sutton, living in London Road, Ewell:

"That's a historic building, it ought to have been protected, even though it's not listed. We can do something better with it.  It should be a small museum, preserving art from this area, maybe opening just in the summer for children. Wandsworth have something like that, they should go and talk to them."

Katy Habibian, owner, Village Pizza, Ewell By Pass:

"Lidl's food is great, the fruit and veg is fresh, its affordable to people on a budget. Bringing something that would encourage people to stop in the village would be good for business."

Priatheepan Sornalingam, manager of Angel Food and Wine on Ewell By Pass:

"It will affect our business. Maybe I'll have to close down or sell the business."

Harry Akkaya, manager, Superfish, Castle Parade, Ewell:

"More people would come to town, see we are here.  I do not think it should be made into flats, I would like to have a business that employs people. Any business, a pub, a restaurant."

Gareth Jones, of Elmwood Drive, Ewell:

"It would be a step up from KFC, but obviously not ideal if they put access at the back, which would cause traffic and congestion."