A councillor has resigned as a member of the Walton Charity due to plans to build on public open space.

Councillor Christine Elmer, who represents Walton South, has stood down from the board of Walton Charity after eight years due to the charity’s handling of plans to move from current offices to an area off Rydens Road between Severn Drive and Walton Park.

Mick Flannigan, of Rydens Road, said: “I find most people very hostile to the application.

Nobody has a good word to say about it.”

The main complaint from neighbours is that few were aware the proposal had been submitted and an exhibition of plans was taking place.

The application was submitted in August, with a deadline for comments September 19. Currently 73 letters of objection have been sent in.

Councillor Andrew Kelly, for Walton Ambleside, said: “The effort, or lack of effort, they went to to let people know about the exhibition was appalling.

“They did not leaflet any of my residents despite an awful lot of them using that green.

“If they can afford to do this application, they can afford to print leaflets.”

Coun Elmer said: “They could’ve won hearts and minds, instead they have alienated the whole of Walton South and Ambleside.

“We do support their aims, but it is in the wrong place.”

Jackie Lodge, chief executive of Walton Charity, said: “It was leased to Elmbridge Council, but that lease came to an end in October 2012.

“We have indeed looked for other suitable office accommodation or indeed other places to develop, but that has been unsuccessful. But we continue to search.”

A total of 39 per cent of the existing green would be lost to the proposed office building.

Mr Flannigan said: “Think of losing 39 per cent of Lords or Twickenham or Wembley, they just couldn’t function – and the same applies on a much smaller scale to the land alongside Severn Drive.

“Instead of having this facility within easy walking distance, residents would be forced to drive to alternative grounds elsewhere in the borough.”

This area is owned by Walton Charity and is next to its Sherwood House Residential Care Home.

Mrs Lodge added: “We simply cannot continue to pay revenue, ie renting offices, because the commercial cost of renting an office block in Walton is very, very high.”

The new two-storey office block would house Walton Charity in addition to about 13 other charities, providing a total of 52 staff desk spaces.

Mrs Lodge said: “We have worked really hard to keep the site to 39 per cent of the total overall space.”

There would be 28 parking spaces, and a number of trees would be felled.

Mr Flannigan said: “They [parents] are appalled by the thought that their growing children could be deprived of the opportunity to play ball games.

“I was particularly struck by the evidence of a very old couple whom I met on the green. Despite mobility problems, they walk a considerable distance to use the green every day, if they can.”