A HASLEMERE resident has hit out at the treatment meted out to two householders whose homes have blighted by the building of a new sports pavilion yards from their front door.

He branded it as "worthy of a back-street car salesman, rather than an English district council."

As what has turned into a political row over a decision by the Lib Dem-ruled Waverley Borough Council not to buy the two affected homes in Bartholomew Close raged on this week, Philip Hunt is one of a number of people making their protest on this week's Herald letters page.

Incensed by the building, along with the attitude of Lib Dem councillors, who decided to overturn a recommendation by Waverley officers to buy the homes, he believes the council now has "a moral obligation to fulfil a promise or commitment that may have been made by others".

Mr Hunt, who lives close to the new High Lane pavilion and Kilnfields redevelopment site, said that not only is he "appalled at the sheer awfulness of the building, but also at the shameful and disgraceful treatment" the two couples had received.

"What confronts residents and passers-by is an abomination," declares Mr Hunt in his letter.

"I can't believe an architect has been anywhere near it."

James Mackie, also in a letter to The Herald, followed up his comments made last week and called remarks by Lib Dem councillors to the full council meeting where the decision not to buy the homes was ratified last week as "fatuous".

"To say that 'no one has a right to a view' showed a complete lack of understanding of this particular case," said Mr Mackie, referring to remarks made at last week's Waverley meeting.

He continued: "The suggestion that 'if they don't like it they can sell up and go' was as unsympathetic as it was unrealistic."

He said that despite the matter being passed from one committee to another "on each occasion the matter seemed to have been pre-decided by the Lib Dem caucus."

This week, The Herald learned that it was rumoured that the same Lib Dem executive committee agreed to pay a substantial sum for a nearby house, to allow the redevelopment of the area to proceed. Waverley Borough Council declined to comment on the rumour.

Another local resident, who did not wish to be named, said that many people were unhappy about the situation.

"The pavilion is hideous and looks like an industrial unit and it is not fair on the people."

Of the many letters received by The Herald, this week, only one, written by Haslemere member of the Lib Dem executive committee, John Robini, expressed his support of the pavilion and defended the political stance taken by the Lib Dems.

Mr Robini, who said that he "wanted to put the record straight", said the current Lib Dem executive had been given a history of the Kilnfields site. "We were asked to spend a considerable amount of taxpayers' money on buying two private properties even though all the correct procedures had been followed.

"As we are faced with a funding deficit left by the Conservative administration, we cannot spend ratepayers' money irresponsibly."