From the https://www.bexleytimes.co.uk By Luke May, 14 September 2017.

Landlady fears The Iron Horse ‘may be no more’ as plans revealed for three tower-blocks in Sidcup.

Coplan Estates hopes to build 136 homes in Station Road, Sidcup.

A petition has now been set up to protect the pub.

The landlady of a popular Sidcup pub fears she may have to close her doors if plans for 136 apartments in Sidcup go through.

Last week, Coplan Estates Ltd held an exhibition at the Holy Trinity Church on Station Road, minutes away from their proposed site backing onto Sidcup station, to build three high-rise blocks at the Co-Op site.

One of the blocks, which CGI images show towering around The Iron Horse pub on Station Road, could rise up to 14-storeys, though developers say plans are in their infancy, and that the development will have no impact on The Iron Horse.

Julie Crabb has been running the pub and music venue for three years.

She said: “How dare they have the audacity to say The Iron Horse won’t be affected. I’m not sitting here thinking about getting new punters, I’m thinking about where my customers right now are going to park.

“They will have to put in legislation to tell anyone who moves in that we’re a music venue, we do play music late, not as loud as we used to, but we’re licensed until 2am.

“I live upstairs as well, I’ve got my garden oasis on the roof, I don’t want all these people staring down at me, and I don’t want to park my car miles from home just to walk down the streets at night.

“It feels like I’m being railroaded out of my home and business, if it goes ahead The Iron Horse may be no more.”

The existing Co-Op store and office block, both owned and leased by Coplan Estates will be demolished to make way for the blocks, which will house one and two bedroom apartments, along with a new foodstore.

Developers say it is “likely” that up to 35 per cent of the flats will be affordable.

A spokesperson from Coplan Estates said: “The site currently provides little in the way of vitality and vibrancy to the town, comprising a large open expanse of surface car parking, and an unattractive frontage building. As such, it provides a great opportunity to bring about the regeneration of this area of the town.

“We value the opinions of local residents and businesses and encourage feedback on the outlined plans.”

Around 300 questionnaires were handed out to residents on Friday and Saturday, with developers now reviewing responses as they prepare to put in a planning application to Bexley council by the end of the year.

Residents handed questionnaires have until September 29 to return their responses to jonathan.rowlatt@wyg.com.

On Wednesday, a petition to ‘Save the Iron Horse’ was set up, which claimed the development would be “robbing the town of an evergrowing scene of arts and culture”.

By Thursday morning it was nearing its 200 signature target.