HASLEMERE protestors have lost their battle to stop more than 400 new homes being built at the old King Edward VII Hospital at Easebourne.

There was an outcry on Monday when the South Downs National Park Authority's planning committee members voted by five to three to approve the plan despite fierce objections.

The proposal for a major housing development within a relatively remote area of the South Downs National Park represents a significant departure from national policy and the district development plan.

For full story, see this week's Haslemere Herald.