OPPONENTS of a youth drop-in centre to be sited at Montrose House in South Street have won their battle to stop the scheme going ahead.
Surrey County Council has succumb to mounting pressure led by councillor Marie King Hele,(Lib Dem, Farnham Central) to refuse the application, claiming that it would be too near elderly people living in Home Park.
The decision goes against a recommendation from Waverley Borough Council made last week (see Page 3), which raised no objection to scheme, providing a number of conditions were met.
County councillor David Munro, who led the project and made £10,000 of his budget available to fund the scheme, is surprised by the news.
Along with other members of Waverley's planning committee he was confident Surrey would give the scheme the go -ahead, particularly as the application was on behalf of the county council who had pledged funding of £50,000 for the first year's lease.
"I'm very disappointed and feel very firmly that this is a non-starter now", said Mr Munro.
"Technically, the council can't just say no after one meeting and the matter could go to another planning committee.
"I am determined to keep the pressure up because the young people in the town are telling us this is what they want, so we shall look again.
"However, I don't feel there is any possibility of them changing their mind. Marie King Heale presented a very strong case."
p Waverley debate, Page 3.