A Coulsdon woman is worried that if flats are built on the Lion Green, what remains of the town's culture could soon disappear.

A consultation is currently underway that would see 120 new homes built on the site.

Pipa Toogood has lived in Coulsdon for the past four years and said if the blocks were built, the Croydon Merstham and Godstone Railway embankment at Lion Green "will be hidden from public view."

She said: "I'm particularly concerned that what remains of Coulsdon heritage is disappearing fast.

"The embankment at Lion Green is one of the last remains of the oldest public railway in the world (Surrey Iron Railway).

"The blocks will vary in height from four to seven storeys, and the tallest will be clearly visible above the tree line.

"Rather than hiding the embankment behind blocks of flats, Croydon Council should be celebrating Coulsdon's heritage by creating a public square or park at Lion Green."

A planning application has not yet been submitted, but documents put out as part of the consultation, Brick by Brick - the company behind the proposal - said views would be considered in development.

"(The design includes a) careful approach to the protection and enhancement of views through the site towards the Scheduled Ancient Monument," it said.

The document also said there would be a "retention and reprovision of a new public car park of 100 spaces serving Coulsdon town centre."

Ms Toogood said shopkeepers were also worried that any reduction to the carpark could result in less trade.

"Many of the small shops and businesses in Coulsdon have closed down since the Aldi supermarket was built, and local people are afraid that reducing the size of the car park will drive more businesses away," she said.

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