Police were called to assist during a bad tempered council meeting to discuss controversial plans to build a new high storey block of flats in Kingston town centre. 

Surrey Comet:

Police on the steps of Guildhall

Around 200 people turned up to tonight's development control committee meeting, to both object to the proposed 19 storey tower block at the old post office site in Ashdown Road, and hear developers St. George defend its plans. 

So large was the turn out that security guards began turning members of the public away, saying there were too many people in the room. 

Kingston police officers were called to assist - and threatened to arrest a man after an alleged altercation inside the Guildhall. 

Once the meeting began, the crowd had to be told on several occasions by committee chairman councillor Richard Hudson to stop booing and jeering people speaking in favour of the project.

Kingstonfirst chief executive Ros Morgan defended the development saying: “It is important to note I do not work for St George.

"Kingstonfirst represents 900 businesses in Kingston and my role is to protect the interests of these businesses.

“There is no doubt about it Kingston is a great town but it is not enough.

“Places like the West End, Croydon and Guildford continue to attract investment and we need to be too.

“[Currently] the site is an eyesore and frankly an embarrassment to the town centre.”

However members of the Kingston Residents Alliance, a group of 20 different organisations who have come together to oppose the project, said the plans would destroy the character of Kingston town centre.

They also said that a building of that size would severally affect access to sunlight for other residents in the area and the town centre in general.

The proposal's lack of affordable housing was also raised - under St George's current plans, only 15 per cent of the housing available would be affordable. 

Surrey Comet:

St George's redevelopment of the old post office site is being strongly opposed by residents, but welcomed by town centre managers Kingstonfirst

Tessa Kind, from KRA said: “I have never seen so many residents at a council meeting.

"It is a shame that the building could not accommodate all those with real concerns over this development.

“These walls of towers that physically turn their backs on residents in a conservation area will create a new yet still oppressive, dark corner in our town.

“A maximum of two hours sunlight on midsummer a day will be gained on the so called public realm wind tunnel behind the post office building.

“And that will only benefit up to 79 per cent of that space. For most of the year, the Eden Square is in shadow of towers.” 

Riverside Residents Association member Tony Lancaster described the building as “the fag packet of Kingston.”

He said: “These plans are a gateway to West Croydon. A one finger salute to the residents of Kingston.”

Councillors on the development control committee will return on Tuesday, June 23, to decide the application.