More than 1,000 objectors signed a protest petition against Waverley Borough Council’s move to deregister Wey Hill fairgound – which has been used as a free car park for decades – as common land.
But environmental planning inspector Barney Grimshaw last Thursday gave Waverley the green light to proceed, concluding deregistration and the land exchange would have “little adverse effect on the interests of the neighbourhood and some, albeit limited, beneficial effects”.
As part of the proposal, the Fairground will be ‘swappped’ for Sun Brow Wood over the railway line, which is legally required for any loss of common land.
But proteters say the Wood is not ‘fit for purpose – and even Mr Grimshaw noted it was ‘unlikely’ much of Sun Brow Wood would be usable ‘by less able members of the public’ because of the steepness of the slope.
Condemning the decision, neighbourhood plan group Haslemere Vision chairman Stewart Brown said: “We have argued all along that deregistration is premature.
“It should be possible for Waverley Borough Council to improve the car park without deregistering the site.
“The loss of common land designation will mean the Haslemere community will have even less control of this important community asset in future.
“Our community consultation in 2015 showed strong support for a development of the site to include not just parking but also a mixture of residential, commercial and community space to provide a social and economic stimulus to the Wey Hill area, and improve the linkage between Wey Hill and the High Street.
“This makes it all the more urgent the community finds the funding to develop a realistic proposal for the development of the site to put to Waverley Borough Council.
“Otherwise, once Waverley is in receipt of parking revenues, it will have little incentive to take the initiative on further development.”
Haslemere chamber of commerce president Craig McGowan feared the introduction of pay-and-display parking would hit Wey Hill traders hard.
Mr McGowan said: “In these economically-straitened times, the last thing Waverley Borough Council needs to do is to withdraw a much-needed facility and start charging for the use of the car park. Even after the ‘limited’ landscaping proposed, most of the replacement land will remain unusable.
“It is difficult to understand how bringing in charging for a facility currently free will be beneficial to the town.
“The chamber would consider a bid to take over and run the car park for the benefit of the local community as we already have a car park company registered in readiness for another project. ”
Haslemere Town Council agreed deregistration was not required for parking changes and removing common land “protection” could jeopardise a future development along the lines proposed by Haslemere Vision.
Town mayor David Round intends to push ahead with future development options for the site in partnership with other interested groups.
Mr Round said: “It is hoped Waverley Borough Council will remain committed to considering any proposals Haslemere Town Council might devise in the near future, particularly since the site is a potentially allocated site within the emerging Local Plan Part 2. ”
Welcoming the inspector’s decision, Waverley Borough Council environment portfolio holder Cllr Andrew Bolton said: “This decision will enable the council to address the immediate maintenance and management issues of the site.
“There have been many complaints about how the site is used, including concerns that commuters drive in from outside the borough and take up free spaces, preventing people from parking when visiting nearby amenities.
“There have been concerns as well that the site is unkempt, has too many potholes and is unattractive.
“In the short term we hope to resurface and line the car park and put in long-stay parking charges to ensure the car park is used more fairly.
“We will begin work on an action plan to open up the replacement land.”
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