OPPOSITION is growing to an outline planning application to build up to 13 new homes in Courts Mount Road, Haslemere, near what has been branded as Òone of the most lethal corners in the townÓ.

Many residents are up in arms at the latest plans to demolish a large modern detached home at 20 Courts Mount Road, on the three-quarters-of-an-acre site and replace it with either four houses or seven two-bedroom and six three-bedroom homes.

Concerns have also been raised that the boundary of the development will extend to the buildings of the house next door and will create a loss of privacy.

Letters of objection have already been received against the proposals to develop the sloping site which contains several mature specimen trees.

Although an improved existing access road is planned to the new homes, many residents are concerned that the lack of a footpath close to the proposed development would create additional safety hazards both for pedestrians and motorists.

Situated close to the junction of the almost single-track Sandrock, both that and Courts Mount Road are used as a rat-run to Haslemere station.

ÒAll the people I have spoken to are unhappy about it,Ò said the chairman of Haslemere Society, Robert Serman, who lives nearby.

ÒThe present house sits in a beautiful grassy lawn area with trees, and everyone in the road is against it.

ÒIt is a quiet and very narrow road, there is no footpath and it is used by elderly people and quite a lot of young mothers with babies,Ó he added.

He declared: ÒIt will change the character of the road and affordable homes are entirely inappropriate.

ÒWe have got to safeguard these pleasant quiet backwaters instead of cramming in houses.Ó

Mr Serman fears that granting planning permission could set the precedent which could lead to housing development stretching from the site in Courts Mount Road down to the rear boundary of Haslemere Hotel, opposite Haslemere station.

He warned: ÒWe could have the whole place looking like a housing estate.Ó

A spokesman for Waverley Borough Council said there was no housing developer involved with the plans currently for the outline planning application with illustrative drawings.

Haslemere Town Council planning committee was expected to discuss the application last night (Thursday).