WAVERLEY Borough Council’s application to deregister Wey Hill Fairground car park as common land to introduce pay and display has come under renewed pressure.

Following last week’s launch of a protest petition, which has now attracted nearly 900 signatures, objectors are holding a “protest party” at the site tonight (July 1) from 6pm to 9pm.

Haslemere Town Council is holding a public meeting at Haslemere Hall on Monday, July 9, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm to get feedback before agreeing its response to the application at the next full council meeting on Thursday, July 12.

Protestors maintain there is no legal requirement to deregister the site as common land. Waverley is proposing a swop with a site it owns at Sun Brow to “make good” the loss of common land.

Those signing the petition object “the loss of this precious common land and community asset in the heart of Wey Hill in Haslemere is not in the best interests of the neighbourhood because it can currently be used for the benefit of the community, including for parking, whereas, if it is deregistered, it can be used for any purpose without being in the interests of the neighbourhood”.

Waverley has responded it sought external legal advice and concluded deregistration of the land is “the most appropriate route” in order to achieve its objectives.

A Waverley spokesman said: “This way a larger and more suitable area of commonland will be retained and allow the council to resurface and regulate the car parking activity on the site in the short-term.

“The council is excited the work could open up a range of development opportunities for the site in the longer term and will work with partners to develop these proposals.”

*The deadline for responses is Monday, July 16. They should be made in writing to: Common Land Team, The Planning Inspectorate, 3F Temple Quay House, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN or email:[email protected]. To view the petition go to http://haslemereparking.com/common-land-wey-hill-fairground-wbc-s16/.