FEELINGS are running high over the failure to find a solution to the continuing access problems at Charter Walk in West Street.

A local family trust, the Gibbs Trust, Waverley Borough Council and developers Chelsworth Leisure have all been criticised by Haslemere residents for continuing to allow the new mini-shopping mall walkway to remain barred to pedestrians.

As reported in last week's Herald, the mini shopping centre has been behind barricades for months, because of an ongoing dispute over land access.

Businessmen and councillors all expressed frustration at what has been described as the Berlin Wall that surrounds "Charter Dead End".

This week Herald reporters took to the streets and asked what local people thought of Haslemere's latest vacant property.

Sue Lambert shops in the town regularly, and was aware of part of the problem surrounding the development.

"I knew that there is a trust that owns the right of way, and that they are not yielding to the developers," she said. "Presumably they're not being offered enough money."

Mrs Lambert felt that the current situation was not benefiting anyone.

"It reflects badly on all those involved - the trust, the council and the developers - that they can't come to an understanding to make a useful addition to the town," she said.

"I don't know where the blame lies, but it shouldn't be beyond them to sort it out."

Mrs Lambert felt that the town centre required "vibrancy", but that at the moment Charter Walk was just "a negative space".

Peter Andrews said he had heard people talking about the difficulties, and also regretted the current state of affairs. "It certainly is an attractive looking development, so it's a shame that it's not open."

However, Peter Lavender, a retired doctor from Lurgashall, thought that the site had yet to be completed.

"I assumed they were waiting to pedestrianise it," he said. When told the reason behind the continued closure, Dr Lavender said it was "extraordinary".

"It's a surprise, and if things don't progress, it's a pity," he said.

One woman who gave her views has lived in Haslemere for 14 years but didn't wished to be named.

"What was the point in building it?" she asked. "Who's going to rent the shops if you can't even get into them? No one."

Adding that the situation was "a farce" she believed that Waverley should make a compulsory purchase order for the land.