CAMPAIGNERS battling to stop construction work at Cherkley Court are hoping an injunction on the estate will be upheld at a High Court hearing today.
Developers Longshot had started the process of turning the grounds into a luxury hotel and golf course but a stop order was issued on March 26, which halted work.
The Cherkley Campaign applied for the injunction to stop "irreversible damage" being done to the estate. The group is currently seeking a judicial review of the decision by Mole Valley District Council to grant planning permission last year.
A hearing to decide the group's grounds for a judicial review is set for April 24 and spokeswoman Kristina Kenworthy believes the court is unlikely to lift the injunction next week.
She told the Advertiser: "The High Court can either lift or uphold the injunction, but I cannot see a judge lifting it with a hearing into our rights to a judicial review just eight days later."
Biodiversity expert Professor David Hawksworth added: "It is my professional opinion that no physical disturbance or spraying should proceed on the grassland areas until there has been a thorough survey and scientific assessment of the whole site by appropriately skilled and independent specialists."
Longshot has defended its right to apply herbicide. Spokesman for the firm Nick Kilby said: "The legal steps taken on behalf of the Cherkley Campaign are misconceived and taken on a completely erroneous and misleading basis.
"Immediate steps are being taken by our legal team to rectify the position and damages will be sought against the Cherkley Campaign and its individual members for any temporary delay in the scheme proceeding in accordance with the planning permission which has been lawfully granted by the council."
But Mrs Kenworthy responded: "Mr Kilby has suggested that members of the Cherkley Campaign are liable to Longshot for damages; this is nonsense."
