A developer has expressed disappointment after its plans for a 16-storey tower block at Kingston’s old post office site were rejected last night.

The Guildhall had its own fireworks as the latest application for the site in Ashdown Road was unanimously turned down in front of a packed public gallery at the bonfire night development control committee meeting.

Today a spokesman for St George said: "We are disappointed that the development control committee has resolved to refuse the planning application for the old post office site.

"The site has been under-used and unloved for decades, and the proposal would have transformed it into a high quality mixed use development. We will now consider our options."

The build up to the meeting rumbled on throughout yesterday as people anticipated celebrating or commiserating.

Eden Walk developers were spotted at the meeting, watching carefully.

Surrey Comet:

The packed public gallery at last night's meeting

The two MP's for the borough, James Berry and Zac Goldsmith, had even been moved enough to write letters against developer St George's application earlier in the week.

Those who had spent months campaigning against the towers, previously referred to as the "gates of Mordor", were thrilled with the result.

Last night's report from the Surrey Comet on the meeting

Pleas made to councillors to reject "heritage damaging" scheme

Tempers flared in a previous meeting about the application in June

The 'victory' was romantically suggested to be a defeat for St George by the dragon - Kingston Residents' Alliance - who fought tooth and nail against the plans, with one member reduced to bringing in a bag of parsnips at a previous meeting in an attempt to demonstrate the lack of support for the proposal.

Last night the Twitter account for the group said: "To our surprise we have a unanimous REJECT! Our campaign has worked."

Member Tessa Kind tweeted: "Thanks to all councillors who came to realise this was never a good plan. Residents hammered home."

Grove ward Councillor Jon Tolley, who made eloquent comments last night against the plans, said: "The #topo plans have so many flaws, I mean floors, I mean flaws, I mean floors.

"Hope last night's refusal isn't a hollow victory."

While the celebrations took centre stage yesterday, this morning held warnings over fears an appeal could be looming from the determined developers.

This morning a BRAG Residents’ Association newsletter sent out said: “It may not be over yet.”