RESIDENTS will fight a proposed development "to the bitter end", after winning the first round in the battle to save Oxted's green belt.
A Tree Preservation Order (TPO) has now been put in place on trees on land off Chichele Road.
The order grants the trees the permanent protection which anti-development campaigners had been fighting for.
The order was made unanimously by the district council on Thursday last week, and followed a temporary order which was made back in March.
The land had been targeted for potential development by Village Developments in Outwood which has designs on building 140 homes on the site.
But residents living in the vicinity have vehemently objected to the proposals.
Ten oak trees on the site had already been "ring-barked" – sawn into - before the making of the permanent TPO, which may lead to prosecution.
Julie Cole, from the Oxted and Limpsfield Residents' Group, said residents were relieved the order had been made, but the fight to protect the green belt would continue.
She told the Mirror: "I think it [the TPO] shows that the council wants to protect the environment and have shown they care for it.
"This battle has been won, but we can only wait to see what happens with the upcoming planning application. I think residents and us as a group will continue to fight this application."
Nigel Greenhalgh, managing director of Village Developments Plc -said following the announcement of the decision that it was "no surprise" the orders were given the go-ahead.
He added: "We expected them [the council] to play to the gallery.
"We have made our position clear to Tandridge that we consider they are acting unreasonably in confirming a TPO that we have leading Counsel's advice is unlawful.
"We will appeal them immediately and seeks costs against them. As far as the prosecution [against us for possible breach of the TPO] is concerned we have no faith in the council acting impartially following an e-mail from the leader of the council Gordon Keymer the day after the alleged TPO breach took place, that residents would be re-assured if the developer was prosecuted – so much for due process."
Mr Greenhalgh was previously reported as saying: "Our proposals include plans for planting far more trees than we cut down.
"We are not short of trees in the district but we are desperately short of affordable housing, with 1,800 households on the waiting list."
Councillor Keymer said: "My original e-mail said 'I know local residents would be much reassured if the council were to pursue prosecution'.
"That remains my personal view but it in no way affects the council's decision as whether to prosecute or not.
"I am assured by officers that with every potential prosecution, they follow the guidance for Crown Prosecutors – for a prosecution to be commenced it should be in the public interest, there should be sufficient evidence to have a reasonable chance of success and it must be proportionate in all of the circumstances."
