A large patch of greenbelt land in Hersham has been flattened, to the dismay of neighbours.

The field in Turners Lane had a fence erected around it and was filled with hard core over several days at the end of May.

Elmbridge Council was alerted to the problem and the site was visited by a planning enforcement officer on Wednesday, June 5, who noted the ground appeared to have been levelled and fencing put in place.

Simon Jordan, of The Paddocks, Weybridge, said: “There must be some kind of law about this that is not being complied with. The future use is unclear and there is a knock-on effect to everyone involved.

“There is the dog centre and golf course, the cemetery and there is the impact on the main road. I am deeply concerned.

“It is about what they are going to do when it is done. If it is going to be a caravan park or a traveller park, it means going forward there is going to be a lot of problems. A single track road is not the site for this. You just don’t do that without some plan for the future.”

Councillor Roy Green said the works were of “great concern” and said he had heard the land may be used as a lorry park.

He said: “We always fight to protect our land in Hersham and do not want to see any work on there at all.

“As soon as they start doing anything like parking a lorry, they do need planning permission.”

Staff and supporters of the greyhound kennels based in Turners Lane were also concerned about the impact of the works, which have been carried out on a flood plain.

A worker from the kennels, who did not want to be named, said: “We have had right of way to walk there for six or seven years now. The owners of the land just came along one day and they moved in and flattened the field. They have just destroyed the greenbelt. It’s all been very badly done.

“They have devastated the wildlife there and just took the trees down with no planning permission. I think people thought we were responsible for it.

“The kennels have been here a long time and it was a good use of area which couldn’t be developed or used for anything else. Why spoil it?”

The kennel staff hoped the council would make the land owner restore everything.

A council spokeswoman said: “The fence itself does not require planning permission from the local planning authority because it is permitted development.

“The council has been in contact with the landowner and the council now awaits a formal response from them regarding the works that have taken place and the intentions for the site.”