A VOLLEY of high-profile objections to Waverley Borough Council’s application to deregister Haslemere’s Fairground car park as common land could force a public inquiry to be held.

Objections from Haslemere Town Council, and the town’s Vision and Society groups were fired off to the Planning Inspectorate, which had received more than 50 responses by last month’s deadline, including a protest petition signed by more than 1,000 people.

Many of those responding to Waverley’s bid to deregister the site as common land in order to introduce pay and display, have protested that the application is not legally required as the scheme is covered by the existing consent for the area to be used as a free car park.

Objectors have branded the move a waste of taxpayers’ money, particularly if the final decision has to be taken at a planning inquiry.

Responding to the objection, a council spokesman said: “Waverley Borough Council can confirm that legal advice has been received and is satisfied an application under Section 16 of the Commons Act 2006 is the most appropriate course of action.”

Opposing the application, Haslemere Society vice-chairman John Greer wrote: “The main driver for the application is for the council to derive income from the site by establishing lucrative pay-and-display parking for the large numbers of commuters using the nearby rail hub.

“A public consultation held by Haslemere Vision, while preparing the Neighbourhood Plan, indicated a strong public preference for the site to be used for a mixed development of housing, retail, local parking and open space for public functions and enjoyment.

“Until a feasible development scheme has been agreed by the public and steps taken to implement it

“The society is strongly opposed to the removal of the common land protection for the site.

“There is a fear that if the common land status were to be removed and Waverley installed the cash raising pay-and-display parking, it would then be very difficult, if not impossible to remove it and secure a development beneficial to the town and its residents.”

Objectors have also questioned the legality of the land swop proposed as mitigation for the loss of common land.

Part of Sun Brow woods owned by the borough council, has been put forward as a suitable alternative recreational space.

Responding to the Planning Inspectorate, Haslemere-based ecologist Gareth Matthes, objected that the site was inappropriate to be transferred as common land on a like-for-like basis, as it currently supports priority Broadleaf Woodland habitat, for which Waverley has a duty of care, and which could be impacted as a result of clearance works to make it an open space.

Mr Matthes wrote: “The site has a wide variety of mature native trees, including a large hazel and an old apple tree, growing beneath the mature tree canop, which will provide a resource for a wide range of bird, mammal and invertebrate species.

“As such the site is considered an ecological resource of parish value and could support protected species, such as bats and dormice.”

Haslemere Town Council has also objected the land swop is unsuitable.

Responding, the council wrote: “The site is smaller and not close enough to the current site.

“The land is not of equal value in amenity – it is in fact already open to the public but not used, as it is on a steep incline and generally inaccessible due to dense foliage.

“It was mentioned at the public meeting concerning the application that the commercial value of the current site is well in excess of that of the proposed replacement land, meaning after deregistration Waverley Borough Council could potentially sell the current site for development, leaving residents with an unusable piece of land as an alternative.

“Residents close to the proposed replacement land are concerned dog-walkers would have to access it by car, using narrow residential roads which are already congested.

“It is a 15-minute walk from the Wey Hill site and the route contains a steep railway bridge.

“There is no adequate parking at the proposed replacement land.”

Haslemere Vision chairman Stewart Brown protested: “Waverley’s assertion the exchange and deregistration will provide an income to the council in future years is not in the interests of the neighbourhood or public.

“They state that charging for parking will enable re-investment in the local community, but they have not outlined how much and in what ways.”