In late April Churchill Retirement Homes submitted a planning application to Tandridge District Council for a development of 35 sheltered apartments and retail premises on the land currently occupied by the Caterham Cars showroom in Station Avenue, Caterham. The deadline for sending comments to the council on the controversial application was Friday 11th May.

As the local press did not have enough time to publish the news well in advance of the deadline, the word was spread using the internet, including an item in the Email newsletter sent out by The Caterham and District Independent seven days before the deadline and two 'Save Caterham Cars' Facebook pages. Within a few hours the Caterham Independent story had received over 3,000 hits and thanks to the internet, support for Caterham Cars rallied and over 200 objections had been sent to the council by the deadline of 11th May.

In the Caterham Independent article, Chris Windridge, Chairman of the Caterham Community Partnership, said: "We have to show the Planning Department at Tandridge District Council the strength of feeling for keeping the Caterham Cars showroom in Caterham .... Between us we have thousands of contacts that we must call on for support immediately."

Andy Noble, Sales and Marketing Director at Caterham Cars, said: "There is a common misconception that we have decided to move out of Caterham but that is not the case. If we are not offered an extension or renewal of the leasehold by the owners of the land we will be forced to move elsewhere. We would love to stay here."

In a statement from Churchill Retirement Homes, MD, Andrew Burgess said: "The existing use of the site is clearly an unsuitably located land use in the town centre and conflicts with the aims and objectives of Policies SS1, SH1 and CSP23 which seek to enhance the vitality of Caterham town centre. With this in mind, the proposed development for a mix of commercial uses and sheltered housing in this central location is acceptable in principle and meets the requirements of local and national planning policy."

Tandridge District Council are due to make a decision on the application in June.

To subscribe to the free Caterham and District Independent weekly E-newsletter go to www.caterham-independent.co.uk