A historic pub may have been doomed by the council when it earmarked the site for housing development last year.
The Organ and Dragon, a Thai restaurant and pub on London Road in Ewell, was closed down on July 17, sparking anger from local residents.
According to the ex-manager of the pub, which has been serving the Ewell community since the 18th Century, its owner, Punch Taverns, has sold the freehold - igniting concerns it may be turned into a nightclub, new housing or be torn down.
Punch Taverns has refused to comment on the future of the pub - but it emerged last week that it was identified as a potential site for housing by Epsom and Ewell Council in its Housing Site Allocations Paper of 2011.
A council spokesman said that, to meet Government requirements, it has to identify areas where housing development could take place and that the consultation which produced the 2011 paper had strong residents’ input that the borough’s green spaces should be protected.
The views generated by the 2011 paper are now being incorporated into emerging planning policies.
He said: "The council identified various sites in existing urban areas which would be viewed favourably if they came before planning.
Read full Article from Hardeep Matharu at epsomguardian
