RESIDENTS overlooking the home of the hugely popular Oxted and Edenbridge Agricultural Show have blasted plans for a two-storey building on the green belt land.
Each August, about 30,000 people converge on the annual two-day show at the Ardenrun Showground, off Tandridge Lane in Lingfield, enjoying a vast array of livestock shows, arena events and hundreds of stalls.
Original plans for a glass and aluminium development on the site were submitted in February last year, only to be withdrawn a month later.
They were resubmitted this February – but many residents say they were not notified of the new plans, which they claim will damage the look and amenity of the area.
However Tandridge District Council has said it is still in the process of notifying residents.
Some near-neighbours fear the permanent facilities – including a meeting/function room and toilets – will bring increased traffic to the area all year round, rather than just over the two days of the annual show. Ian Organ, who lives on the Ardenrun site, wrote to the council to voice his objections.
In his comments to the authority he said: "No residents in Ardenrun [which overlooks the showground] were informed of the application, including myself, who will be directly affected by the proposed development and who objected to the very similar application in 2013.
"I believe the proposal will harm the openness of the green belt.
"The building is entirely out of keeping with the other buildings on the showground, which are only one storey and only used for storage."
The council's leader Gordon Keymer says he shares residents' concerns as to whether the development is appropriate for the green belt.
Piers Mason, the council's chief planning officer, said: "We are only required to notify properties that adjoin a planning application site. To be helpful, the council will also notify residents that have written to the council recently in respect of similar proposals.
"These non-statutory consultations will be sent shortly and residents will have three weeks in which to make comments to the council."
The ground floor of the building is proposed to be used by the organisers of the show as their office all-year-round.
The upper floor would be used for meetings and for activities linked to the show.
It would also be used for agricultural training and for use by local organisations for meetings.
The council will make its recommendations concerning the application three weeks after all parties are notified.
