RESIDENTS of Lower Street, Haslemere, are struggling to come up with evidence that could prevent Waverley Borough Council charging them to use a flight of steps to their homes.
The residents first appealed for help from the community in November 2002 to find photographic or other hard evidence that the steps were 20 or more years old.
Their appeal came after Waverley officers had written to the residents informing them that they may have to pay to use the flight of steps up to their homes from HaslemereÕs High Street car park, behind Somerfield.
The officers also told the residents that if they could prove the steps were 20 years older the charge could not be imposed.
After a report in The Herald several people contacted one of the Lower Street residents, Pippa Jeacock, stating that they knew the steps were more than 20 years old, but none were able to provide photographs or documents to prove their claims.
Now Rob Toth, who lives with Ms Jeacock on Lower Street, said the residents will be holding another meeting within the next three weeks to gather ideas about how to deal with the situation.
Mr Toth said: ÒTwo or three people have come forward to say can state to the council that the steps have been there for more than 20 years, but as yet we have not managed to find any photographic evidence of the age of the steps.Ó
The residents claim that they will fight Waverley to keep the access to the steps free of charge. If they were unable to use the steps in the future they would have to walk along an unpaved section of road, or face crossing the busy street twice to walk safely on a pavement.
Mr Toth said he would like to ask anyone with evidence of the age of the steps to contact him or Ms Jeacock on 01428 658331.
A Waverley Borough Council spokesman said: ÒWe are seeking an amicable solution to the problem and we are in discussions with representative residents of Lower Street and hope to make some progress in the very near future.Ó