Protest planned over village hall

The new Memorial Hall would be sited on St John's Lye

Campaigners are organising a rally to protest against plans to build a new village hall and changing rooms on common land in Surrey.

Woking Borough Council's planning committee is expected to approve the plans for St John's Lye on Tuesday.

It believes the community benefit of the scheme justifies building on the green belt land, which is in St John's Village Conservation Area.

But it is expected that over 200 people will protest before Tuesday's meeting.

The scheme includes the demolition of the existing Memorial Hall and the erection of four houses on the site.

The existing public toilet block would also be demolished.

The Lye car park would be extended to provide an extra 48 spaces.

The new building would be in the approximate position of a former sports pavilion, set against a copse of trees.

Local opinion

"Many local people strongly oppose this development," said a spokesman for the protesters.

"It goes against all the council's own planning rules and local opinion."

The council has received 590 letters of objection, including two from the chairman of the Woking District Branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England and the Open Spaces Society.

Supporters, including Sport Woking and St John's WI, have sent 168 letters of support.

The council says the proposal is appropriate development in the green belt and reflects the character of the conservation area.