"No winners" in Chantry row

The inspector who conducted last month's two-day hearing has dismissed the appeal by Thurleigh Homes Ltd. into Rother council's refusal to grant planning permission.

But objectors' relief is tempered by the feeling that, as one put it, "there are no winners."

Both those who had hoped to sell their homes at reportedly above-market prices and those who have campaigned to project their property values have undergone two and a half years of stress.

Rother's case at the hearing was led by Rother legal services manager David Edwards.

Objectors from the south side of the road mounted a vigorous campaign when Thurleigh began offering to buy homes on higher ground on the north side.

They argued that the backland development would overlook their homes and harm the character of the area.

Their campaign included protest posters which at one stage stoodf outside almost all the south side homes and a petition.

This week Brian Mewett, who used his own site pictures to illustrate his case when he petitioned in Devonshire Road, summed up objectors' feelings.

"Obviously, we are relieved.

"But there are no winners. We have all lost in one way or another.

"It has been two and a half years of worry.

"It's all very well saying 'We have won!' In reality we have all lost."