THE PR company which promoted a controversial plan for a golf course and hotel at a stately home has been hired by a housing developer.
Cratus Communications, which represents developer Longshot in the battle over Cherkley Court, near Leatherhead, is working for the Hunt Group, which wants to build 44 homes in Brockham.
A public exhibition – organised by Cratus – was held in the village on Saturday, to show locals new plans for the land near Kiln Lane, following the refusal of a previous application last October.
Roger Abbott, of Nutwood Avenue, expressed concerns that the specialist PR firm had been brought in.
"I am completely unsurprised that they have hired Cratus," he said.
"They basically won the Cherkley campaign for Longshot, so they know exactly what they are doing."
He added: "The Hunt Group's director Paul Hunt didn't even turn up at the exhibition, which showed exactly what he thinks about it.
"He failed to turn up as he knew that the village is, in the vast majority, against it. They are hiding from us."
The Hunt Group is in the process of submitting a new application for the site, which includes reducing the number of homes from 45 to 44, and increasing affordable housing from 20 to 22.
Villager Peter Answorth said: "It has decreased by one house. So what? It is still green belt land and will put huge pressure on the local schools and infrastructure due to its enormous size."
Paul Hunt said: "We are basically so overworked with developments both here and in the West Country that, rather than do the PR internally, we sought to hire professionals to deal with it.
"Cratus has had some success locally, so that certainly is a bonus."
He added: "I personally cannot keep up with it all. We try our best to listen to local concerns but unfortunately some people complain about developments just because it is near them.
"Bringing Cratus on board gives us the opportunity to listen to concerns in the most professional way possible."