Villagers line up against new Tesco

Villagers are set to launch a fighting fund to stop a Tesco being in Ashtead.

Both the Ashtead Residents' Association and campaign group SAVE (Save Ashtead's Village Environment) are "working hard" to contest appeals lodged by Tesco to build a second store in the village.

The chain has had two plans to build a store and nine flats in The Street refused by Mole Valley District Council – one last March and the other last month.

A public inquiry is set to be held by the Planning Inspectorate on the two appeals but a date, time or venue has not been set.

Despite no timescale being set, Paul Le Versha, chairman of the residents' association, said: "We are working with SAVE to co-ordinate actions against the appeal.

"We are going to fight hard and work in support of the defence that will be put forward by Mole Valley District Council but we will have to face the considerable expense of hiring the expertise to do that.

"We don't have the expertise in planning law and we know Tesco will hire the very top people to make sure one of these appeals goes through.

"We will be starting a campaign to raise funds in a couple of weeks because to stand a good chance of fighting Tesco we will need to raise tens of thousands."

Gillian Russell, spokesman for SAVE, said town planner Geoff Douglass, from Pelham Planning Associates, will be one expert representing the two groups at the public inquiry.

She added: "The fact that Tesco is trying to get the first larger proposal through shows Ashtead that they have no intention of listening to us at all.

"I think we have an excellent chance of winning both appeals because our case against Tesco is founded on strong planning grounds and robust data."

Miss Russell, who has a masters in town planning, is also urging Mole Valley District Council to take a firm stance against the chain.

She said: "Tesco's application can only proceed if Tesco has access to the Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall car park.

As the Advertiser went to press a Tesco spokesman was not available to comment.