WAVERLEY Borough Council stands accused of “stifling free speech” for demanding that two ‘Save Our Beautiful Countryside’ signs erected on private land in Scotland Lane were political advertising and should be taken down.

Members of Haslemere South Residents’ Association (HSRA), formed to oppose the allocation in Waverley’s Local Plan of 50 new homes in an area of great landscape value at Red Court in Scotland Lane, staged a protest on Saturday against the council’s “heavy-handed” action requiring the immediate removal of the signs or the prospect of a fine of up to £2,500 in the magistrates’ court, and a daily fine of £250 for each day they remained up.

In the legal notice served on HSRA chairman Howard Brown, enforcement officers said they “have a duty to protect the sensitive Waverley environment from indiscriminate and harmful signage”.

To raise awareness of the threat of what it believes could be up to 200 houses built on the estate’s 90 acres of “green meadows and woodlands”, HRSA recently urged members to put up signs highlighting what could happen.

The association said it was extremely concerned by Waverley’s action as it has no political affiliation of any kind and simply represents a large group of local residents concerned about protecting the environment. HSRA have temporarily removed the signs and are seeking legal guidance.

Residents have reacted angrily to what they see as an attempt by Waverley to silence them and stifle any opposition to a proposed massive housing estate.

Mr Brown said: “Waverley say they have a duty to protect the sensitive Waverley environment from indiscriminate and harmful signage. We can only hope they will display the same duty of care when it comes to protecting the Waverley environment from indiscriminate and harmful development.”

Responding, a council spokesperson said it had acted following complaints and officers found the signs had been put up without the appropriate advertisement consent.