Joy as Stanwell Village car park is saved

The housing providers were hoping to build them as temporary homes while other houses in the village were demolished and replaced as part of Stanwell New Start, a multi-million pound regeneration scheme.

But 17 letters of objection were sent to the council, including one from a solicitor representing the Stanwell Village Hall Committee, on the grounds that parking would be lost for users of the hall.

Valerie Turner, chairwoman of Stanwell Women's Institute said: "We were so surprised because we didn't think it would be rejected. But the women of the WI went along to show that we wouldn't give up without a fight. When the vote came in we all cheered."

The public car park is part owned by Spelthorne and Surrey County Councils, and although the village hall has a small car park, residents objected on the grounds that if the large car park was built on, the hall wouldn't be used.

Ms Turner said: "If people try and use the hall for a meeting or fete and hear there is no parking, then they wouldn't use it.

"I'm sure we haven't heard the last of this application, but I am so glad we won. I have nothing against A2 building new homes, but not on a public car park."

The application was rejected because of the parking issue, and it is now believed A2Dominion will rehash their plans.

After the meeting, chairman of the planning committee, Howard Thomson, said: "I was surprised it was rejected and I was hoping it was going to be accepted because there is a need for housing provision in Stanwell."

Steve Coggins, A2Dominion's regional development director, said: "We were disappointed not be granted planning permision to provide 14 new homes on the car park in Park Road, which is linked to our regeneration project in Stanwell. We are now reviewing out options before deciding the way forward."