Local Conservative councillors, Richard Butt, Stuart Gordon-Bullock and Helen Senior fought for the application to be considered at an extraordinary single issue meeting of the committee. The application from St. James Homes attracted a record number of objections from local residents, totalling over 300. Local councillors said that the sheer volume of objections - a number previously unknown at the committee - meant that residents must be allowed to have their say outside of the normal rules.  

Worcester Park residents passionately argued that the existing development, which was granted approval in 2002 despite objections from Conservative councillors, would further aggravate the regular gridlock in local traffic. Residents said that in the most extreme cases a journey of 500 yards by car would take a staggering 45 minutes! Green Lane residents complained that they could not open their windows in the morning due to the noxious fumes of stationary traffic. Representations from the developer that the next phases of development would not have had implications for traffic were met with derision from residents.

Cllr. Stuart Gordon-Bullock, speaking on behalf of residents against the application, said: 'We're delighted that this application has been refused. This could not have happened without the hard work and strength of feeling from Worcester Park residents. At last common sense and local democracy has prevailed.'

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