FOUR businesses could be bulldozed to make way for the new £45m Woolwich Civic Centre.

Willow Independent Funeral Services, Castlewood Garage, Indigo Estate Agency and Cafe Funketeria could be compulsory purchased by Greenwich Council by the end of the year.

Now the owners, who have received compulsory purchase notices, want answers from the council about where they will be relocated.

Their request comes after last night's cabinet meeting where members were asked to agree the demolition of the buildings along Wellington Street, Woolwich, for the 20,500sq m civic centre.

The centre forms an initial stage of the Love Lane Masterplan aimed at regenerating Woolwich town centre.

Love Lane will include 1,000 new homes and Europe's largest Tesco store.

Paul and Sue Hopper from the funeral parlour say their 10-year-old business will be replaced by trees as part of the demolition plans.

Mrs Hopper said: "Originally we weren't part of the plans.

"But as soon as they found out the nature of our business they didn't want the deceased coming in and out of the back of our shop across from the entrance of the new Tesco."

The 57-year-old, who has had more than 3,110 clients since 1996, added: "It's absolutely ridiculous.

"Where else are we going to go? They aren't telling us anything."

Castlewood Garage owner Robert Chater, 42, said: "It's very worrying. I think they're walking all over us as if we don't count.

"Eighteen years of work on my own is about to be wiped out.

"There has been no talk of compensation or a number of premises on offer.

"It's like what the Nazis did to the Jews. Now I know how they feel."

A Greenwich Council spokesperson said the plans had been subject to extensive public consultation and feedback had been positive.

He added: "We would work alongside businesses and support them with issues relating to relocation."