“There is no certainty the development will be able to proceed because a condition imposed by the Inspector clearly states that the long stay parking in the APMH car park must be relocated before development commences.
Unlike the process so far where the views of Councillors (and therefore, in effect residents) were stated by the Inspector to make "no difference whatever to the planning issues" on which he based his decision, the use of the car park is a decision entirely for MVDC and is not subject to planning regulations and constraints or outside interference. In reaching its decision on car parking in the village, MVDC can and should be taking into account wider community issues, not the least of which is the overwhelming view of Ashtead residents that existing parking arrangements should remain unchanged. Parking is already difficult for residents close to The Street and yet nobody (including the Inspector) has come up with an answer as to where the 50+ cars per day from current office developments behind The Street and from Tesco staff will park if there is no long stay parking available in the village. Current parking arrangements work very well for villagers, visitors, workers, shops and shoppers alike. Unlike many other places Ashtead is not blighted by chronic on-street parking problems. Why would MVDC wish to change the existing effective and efficient parking arrangements just to meet the demands of a supermarket which the overwhelming majority of Ashtead residents do not want and whose claimed benefits to the community are highly contentious?
Councillors should be in no doubt as to residents' views from the many previous submissions made, but I would urge people to again contact their local Councillors and make their views known so as to ensure their wishes are properly considered”

“Well it is settled, and I trust ARA/SAVE will accept the decision with good grace. Soon the ex-ESSO site will be gone (Ashtead High Street reminds me of the song 'All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth'). With the promised road junction improvements and increased footfalls, those traders in opposition (by no means all) may welcome the supermarket in hindsight, and others forced to price more competitively (immobile residents are often charged the earth for basic essentials). Shame it wasn't a Waitrose, but c'est la vie.”

“What a shame that Ashtead Village is to receive yet another blow to it's retailers, the last thing it needs is yet another Tesco's when they already have one in lower Ashtead and a major store in Leatherhead. What happened to common sense, ah yes I forgot Mole Valley Council Planning don't have any!”