Residents are united in anger at a renewed application to build four houses on a small strip of green space surrounded by houses in Epsom.

Campaigners from about 50 households in or near Links Road, Epsom have vowed to fight the application for four houses to be built on a clearing in the centre of a residential area.

They believe the development would destroy a habitat for badgers and birds and mature trees, impinge on their right to privacy, cause an ongoing disturbance during construction, result in a loss of valued green space, and put strain on local schools and hospitals.

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Links Road, Epsom

The group – who call themselves ‘Save Links Road’ – also allege that the owner, Keith Madders, abruptly felled mature trees in the green space in 2007.

But their former neighbour Mr Madders denies any wrongdoing and maintains that the campaigners would also sell the land for development if they were in his position.

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The open space behind the houses in Links Road, Epsom

Jasper Ehrhardt, 43, from Save Links Road, is the managing director of a financial services business and has lived in Links Road for three years.

He said: “They went in overnight and stole the woodland. It has really raised anger in the neighbourhood and united everyone in that anger because it is such an injustice.

“If they had been fair and open and had put in an application for maybe one house, it might have been different.

“They used to be neighbours and friends to everyone.”

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Keith Madders, who now lives in Hove, denied any wrongdoing and said reports carried out into previous applications for the site supported his claim.

An ecology report is yet to be carried out for the most recent application, but a biodiversity survey carried out in the area in 2014 for an application that was ultimately withdrawn found no negative impact on local wildlife.

Mr Madders added: “It is absolutely untruthful to say there was any illegal cutting. I left the property full of beautiful mature trees because they add something to the neighbourhood.

“There were no bats there nor were there badgers. If there were, we would see them.”

Catriona Head, 57, a retired nurse said she "did not oppose" the application, and described her neighbours' reaction as a "storm in a teacup".

She said: “I have never seen a badger there in my 26 years here. We don’t have any bats there either.”

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Mr Ehrhardt from the Save Links Road group sympathised with the need for houses to be built in the borough, but felt there were other more appropriate building sites available.

He added: “We understand the council is under pressure to build more houses, but it is not needed here. It is too many houses for this space.

“There is an abundance of housing space nearby, and to build here would add pressure on schools and hospitals.”

“We trust that the council will do the right thing and listen to common sense.”

Mark Eshelby, director of Dorking-based developers Latchmere Properties, which is acting as an agent for the Madders family, said: “Whilst there is wildlife there I’m sure it will continue as it always did in a built-up residential area.

“No one likes development adjacent to them it is highly preferable to developing in the green belt, and unfortunately there is a need for housing supply in the borough.

“Whilst I appreciate that the residents aren’t over the moon about our intentions we will be as sympathetic as we can.”

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A council spokesman confirmed that the next available planning committee meeting at which the application could be considered is Thursday, July 21.

To view the application, search 16/00213/FUL at Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s planning portal.