A BUSINESS owner has told The Herald that he may have to shut up shop after plans to knock down an old industrial yard and replace it with houses were given the go- ahead. Christopher Ashton-Jones, who runs Sheen Botanical Labels with his wife Carmen, admitted he was "very sad" after a planning inspector gave the green light to plans by developer Peter Hunt to knock down Old Bakehouse Yard and replace it with five town houses. The Herald reported in October that many groups and residents had opposed the plans at a public inquiry, held by Waverley Borough Council, with many of them speaking out against the proposed houses. They claimed that the access to the site would be too narrow for cars, creating more parking on the road, and also said that small business yards were a part of Haslemere's character and should be kept. The decision to allow the houses has been met with disapproval by the groups, with Mr Ashton-Jones particularly upset about losing his office. He said: "They have thrown public opinion out the window with a decision that is against that of most people in Haslemere. "At a stroke they have wiped out part of the town's heritage, and I am very sad. "I guess Peter Hunt is delighted, but otherwise it is a sad and surprising decision for all of us living in Haslemere. "Clearly it's not the decision hoped for by everyone who spoke at the inquiry, all of whom expressed strong and passionate opposition to the planning application. "These people widely represented organisations which make up the very heart of Haslemere, as well as a number living around Old Bakehouse Yard, who will be very directly affected." He added that unless he could find a suitable site for his business - which makes plant labels for public gardens and has a royal appointment - he may have to close. The couple have been trying to find new premises for several years with no luck, so Mr Ashton-Jones admits he is worried that they will be forced to shut down. Robert Serman, chairman of The Haslemere Society, also objected to the decision - before saying the inspector was not in a position to judge on one of the case's key points. He said: "Inspector Robert Marshall, who has just concluded that The Old Bakehouse Yard site makes no meaningful economic contribution to the town, and that it should therefore be replaced with five cottage-style houses, is of course a town planner and not an economist, unlike some of his peers." Mr Serman compared this to another planning inquiry when an economist was appointed as the inspector and granted permission for a development which, in Mr Serman's opinion, should have been refused. He said: "Having been involved with many frustrating inquiries, I have come to the conclusion that it is all part of the great plan. "These people are appointed carefully to ensure that their particular skill base is irrelevant to the case in issue. "The essential feature is that housing must, at all costs, be provided and that the evidence presented is set aside as it is 'not professionally based' - even when it clearly is." Arya Ingvorsen, president of Haslemere Chamber of Trade, said she was was totally dismayed at the outcome of the planning appeal. She said: "As a chamber of trade, we let it be known at the appeal that we were very strongly opposed to any change of use. "In a semi-rural area such as ours, we want to ensure that there is a diversity of businesses and not develop an over- dependence on any one type of business. "Such diversity leads to a healthy economy and we clearly pointed this out to the planning inspector. "There is nowhere else in Haslemere that is obvious for these two businesses to relocate to, and we feel very badly for Sheen Botanicals and Atlas Electrical. "Naturally, the loss of any business to the area will affect the economy via the multiplier effect. I think that this decision shows a distinct lack of joined-up thinking at the planning appeal."