THE fate of a Haslemere estate agent, which has been trading without planning permission, was discussed at a meeting of borough council planners this week.
Safford Dixon, owned by Mark Safford and Martin Dixon, has been open for business at Junction Place, Shottermill, since April.
But the partners have not been granted planning permission to change the use from that of a retail unit to its current non-retail status.
At the meeting of WaverleyÕs southern area development control sub-committee on Wednesday, as we went to press, members were advised by officers to refuse permission for the application on the grounds that it is contrary to a planning policy which aims to retain local shops.
This is the second time the application has been before the sub-committee. In April, members were advised to grant permission for the business on the grounds that it was not in a prime retail location and was Òoutside the defined town centre and central shopping areaÓ.
At this stage members agreed to defer the decision until Òfurther information was gathered by officersÓ.
The unit was formerly a newsagent, but in a letter received by Mr Dixon, from Steve Russell, the brother of the former owner, it was stated the shop was closed after he received advice that Òretail units in this location were unlikely to succeed with the close proximity of the superstore TescoÓ.
Haslemere town councillors met recently to discuss the proposal and decided to object to use of the unit as an estate agent. Councillors on the planning committee agreed with Jacquie KeenÕs claims that the unit had not been Òmarketed hard enough as a shopÓ.
Speaking before Wednesday eveningÕs meeting, Mr Dixon told The Herald he believed Òevery effortÓ had been made to sell the unit as a shop, but competition from the nearby Tesco and the Esso service station had made the premises ÒunattractiveÓ to buyers as a small retail unit.
He said: ÒI was told by a Waverley planning officer that planning permission would just be rubber-stamped, and there should be no problems with opening the business.Ó
Mr Dixon added: ÒWe have improved the building, we are paying rates and providing employment for people. I will appeal if it is refused.Ó