Chertsey Victorian homes face demolition

Mar 9 2010 By Emma Heseltine

16-24 Bridge Street in Chertsey are being demolished

A ROW of Victorian houses which residents fought for five years to save are being demolished this week.

The houses at 16-24 Bridge Street in Chertsey, which was bought by developers Michael Shanley Homes in 2005, have been the subject of planning applications, appeals and inquiries, before permission for 29 new homes was granted about 18 months ago.

Residents and Runnymede Council fought tooth and nail to save the old houses, but eventually the plans were given the green light by the government's planning inspector.

Bridge Road resident Terry Hughes, 54, said: "We all knew this day would come, but in a way hoped that it wouldn't. We have said all along that this development is too big for the site that it is on and that the infrastructure in Chertsey will suffer as a result.

"But we have done all we can. We have protested, signed petitions and even got Runnymede Council on side but the planning inspector gave the decision against us. It is just a shame to see these beautiful old houses being torn down."

Permission for the housing estate was first refused by Runnymede Council's planning committee in 2006, but the developers made a series of alterations and after several appeals, the homes were approved in 2008.

Another resident in the road, Louisa Bourne, 37, said: "It's devastating, even though we have known for some time that the houses were going to be demolished. The whole look of the road is changing before our eyes, and it's definitely not for the better.

"Part of the character of Chertsey has been lost this week, and it's not the first time we have lost an important part of our heritage. There are always applications, such as with the Old Bell pub, where heritage comes a distant second to a modern development. It's a real shame, but there's no going back now."

Building work will begin soon on 29 new homes on the site, with a new access road and a central quad for the new residents.