An exclusive and extremely wealthy private club has come under attack for claiming it needs to build on greenbelt land to pay for repairs to a historic wall and cottage.

The members-only Royal Automobile Club, based at Woodcote Park, Epsom, has also been criticised for not doing more for the community where it is based.

The club has applied for planning permission to build two six bedroom homes on 2.3 acres of greenbelt land it owns on The Ridge claiming it needs the money to restore a Grade II listed wall and gardeners’ cottage.

Not only has this angered environmental campaigners and local residents who believe any development on this protected land should be blocked, but others are mystified why the club, which spent more than £1m remodelling its restaurant a few years ago and is stumping up £24m for a huge redevelopment, has not bothered to maintain the historic wall and gardeners' cottage.

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An artist's impression of the planned motor heritage wing as part of the redevelopment

Some accuse the club of using them now as a cynical bargaining chip to persuade the council's planning committee to allow the greenbelt development.

The outline planning application is part of a £24m master plan submitted to Epsom Council that involves the creation of a luxury spa, a motoring heritage wing, a new golf driving range, plus a new children's area including a swimming pool.

Surrey County Councillor Tina Mountain, who declared a personal interest because she lives in the Ridge, said permission to build the homes would set a dangerous precedent. 

Coun Mountain said: "It’s a bit of a shock that they are even considering a development that goes against everything we in Epsom stand for.

"The residents of Epsom do not want to lose the greenbelt."

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The proposed site in the Ridge, Epsom

Given the £24m it plans to spend on the redevelopment, she said: "If they are quite happy to get all the money together for that, why can’t they get money together to repair the listed wall?

"Why should the people of Epsom suffer for it? Once the greenbelt’s gone, it’s gone. We have to fight for that."

Together with Conservative campaigners Daniel and Jane Race, Coun Mountain has collected 2,000 signatures on a petition to stop greenbelt development including the RAC plans.

Coun Mountain said she was not aware of the RAC doing anything for the community, except providing employment.

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Councillor Tina Mountain and Jane and Daniel Race hand in the petition at the town hall

When asked to explain exactly what it has done for the community, the club said it funded a flagpole in Epsom town centre,supported a fun day, recruited staff locally and 2,500 of its members live within five miles.

In one objection submitted to the council, Adam Wilson, of Kingsdown Road, said a small levy on RAC members should fund the repairs.

He said: "This is a cynical application, using 'enabling development' as a smokescreen for a wealthy club to avoid its duty in its maintenance obligations for the walled garden."

While recognising that the redevelopment could bring economic benefits to the community, Robert Austen, from the Epsom Civic Society, said only the "most affluent" members of society belong to the club.

Mr Austen said: "This is not a reason to oppose per se, but it is a reason to oppose the so-called enabling development.

"In addition to forming an unfortunate precedence, the proposal to build within the greenbelt provides no compelling benefits to the wider community, and seems simply to underline the club’s failure to maintain the listed garden walled garden and gardener’s cottage, while assisting in providing additional facilities within the master-plan."

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The historic wall

But Michael Bedingfield, head of communications at the club, said: "It has been challenging over the last 40 years to sustain an economically viable use for The walled garden.

"We now have an opportunity to re-establish a sustainable use and restore the garden, made possible by sale of the two enabling plots. We very much hope that we will be supported in this once-in-a-generation opportunity to breathe life back into an historic part of the estate.

"Having been at Woodcote Park for over 100 years, we are keen to continue being good neighbours and being involved in the local community, once again being delighted to play a part in Epsom and Ewell Family Fun Day."

The RAC said the cost of the walled garden repair and sale of the "enabling plots" would not be known until the decision on planning permission.

The club insisted proposals will not set a precedent and it recognises the sensitivity of the greenbelt site and the importance of conserving heritage assets.

It said: "The club is not a profit making business and the money raised by the sale of the enabling plots will be used entirely to restore the listed walled garden and gardener’s cottage."

But Conservative campaigner Mr Race, who started the greenbelt petition, said if the Ridge site is lost then it would create a "domino effect" and erode the greenbelt.

He said: "Where we disagree with the RAC Club is in their bid to sell off greenbelt land for residential development, using the restoration of its walled garden as an excuse to do so."

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Conservative campaigners Jane and Daniel Race

Andy Smith, Surrey branch director of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: "Although it is only a small piece of green belt land that is at risk, CPRE's view would be that any reduction in the green belt sets a bad precedent, and in this case it is being done purely to benefit a private members' club, which surely cannot be justified as being in the public interest.

"The trouble with allowing the greenbelt to be nibbled away, bit by bit, is that developers keep coming back for more!"

Residents Association Epsom Councillor Liz Frost, who declared an interest because she lives in Warren Hill, said she was not aware of the RAC supporting local community organisations.

Coun Frost said: "It’s great if any local landowner, employer, whoever does contribute to the community."

Of the plans for homes in the Ridge, she said: "Generally it’s disappointing that the RAC had not been maintaining the wall and cottage because they have a responsibility to do this.

"It’s very disturbing that over the years they have let them get to this state because they should have been maintained as they go along."

She added: "It’s greenbelt land so it’s certainly something that I would not be happy about."

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Epsom and Ewell MP Chris Grayling

Asked about Conservative MP Chris Grayling's stance on the issue Coun Mountain said: "I believe Chris found it a conflict of interest because he’s a member of the RAC.

"If he came out against it or for it or any way at all, it would be putting pressure on other people. He felt it would be better to stay neutral."

But Mr Grayling, who has free honorary membership at the club worth £1,500 a year, said it was "nonsense" to suggest that he faces a conflict of interest because he has no involvement in the decision-making process.

He said: "I think this is one that is just a planning matter for local councillors and I don’t want to get involved on either side of the argument."

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The consultation on the plans has closed. The council confirmed this week that no date has yet been set for the plans to be considered.

See the plans, with references 14/00562/FUL and 14/00561/OUT, at eplanning.epsom-ewell.gov.uk