Nursing home refusal goes to public inquiry

By dblackmore

A public inquiry is set to decide if a 62-bedroom nursing home can be built in Ashtead.

Robinson Escott Planning (REP) was refused permission by council planners in April to demolish two homes in Harriotts Lane and replace them with a residential care and nursing home.

But they have appealed against the decision and now the plan will go to a public inquiry at Mole Valley District Council offices at Pippbrook, Dorking, in September.

The nursing home plan sparked fury in the community with more than 50 letters, mostly from residents, being sent to council to object to the plans.

Harriotts Lane resident Alastair Law said: "The scale of the building and the resulting traffic movements are totally out of keeping for such a narrow road that is already over-used and dangerous.

"This proposed development would cause more traffic congestion in a road that is frequently blocked by delivery vehicles and refuse collections."

Amy and Tim Scott, also of Harriotts Lane, added: "We consider it a blatant attempt to overdevelop and is completely unnecessary, inappropriate and detrimental to our home environment."

However, John Escott, from Robinson Escott Planning, who submitted the plans on behalf of his client David Allbeury, has said there is a need for additional accommodation in the area for an increasingly elderly population.

"The building would have no adverse impact on the character or appearance of the area nor would it be conspicuous or prominent from the adjacent Green Belt," he said.

"There are significant benefits that would accrue from the proposal in terms of making more efficient use of existing land, providing development for which there is a need and providing a scheme of good-quality urban design."

The public inquiry starts at 10am on September 9.