PLANS to de-register common land used for recreation for decades have been submitted.
Prestigious Walton Heath Golf Club, in Walton-on-the-Hill, has lodged a proposal to fence off part of 550-yard-long Beecham's Field and replace the common land lost with a plot on the Downs on the other side of the M25, further away from the village.
The club says the project is widely supported, and vital to provide adequate practice facilities. But it has caused consternation among some residents, who want the field, which borders Dorking Road, to remain public.
Anyone who wants to comment must submit their representations to the Planning Inspectorate by August 9.
Club secretary Stuart Christie said: "As a world class golf venue, we are bereft of quality practice facilities.
"By making this exchange, and using the land as a practice ground, we would address those issues. We have had a lot of support from local people.
"It is important to stress we are not asking to de-register the whole of Beecham's Field. It is two-thirds, the top end will still be accessible [to the public].
"The exchange land is a superior piece of land and it is unquestionably larger by 20 per cent.
"It is further away, but on balance I do believe it is a fair proposal." he said.
The Tadworth and Walton Residents' Association is among those fighting the plan, and has organised a leaflet drop to encourage residents to comment.
Member Gillian Hein said: "There is a lot of opposition, primarily because of the loss of the facility at Beecham's Field and the fact that the replacement site is so far away and completely different in character.
" A lot of the people who use Beecham's Field, particularly the elderly and less mobile children, just won't be able to use it.
"It will be a big loss because the area is well-used by the people of Walton for informal walking, exercising, walking dogs, and practising golf. The replacement land takes another half an hour to get to, and it is sloping. I just don't think it will be well used."
The club, which holds national and international amateur and professional tournaments, and hosted the Ryder Cup in 1981, already has planning permission to turn the field into a formal practice area, but has denied suggestions it intends to move the clubhouse to the site.
Anyone who wants to comment, should write to The Planning Inspectorate, Room 4/05, Kite Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN, or e-mail commonlandcasework@pins.gsi.gov.uk
