Campaigners fighting a proposed Tesco in Ashtead have told a planning inspector the supermarket would irreversibly destroy the village’s community spirit and culture.

Gillian Russell, founder of Save Ashtead Village Environment (Save), said the group feared the new store, on the former Esso site, in The Street, would turn Ashtead into a “clone town”.

More than 1,230 villagers - 23 per cent of households - have written letters or emails opposing the plans, and raised thousands of pounds towards Save’s campaign, a public inquiry heard.

Miss Russell said: “These developments would suck the life out of Ashtead where our independent retailers are an essential part of our life blood.

“Tesco is attempting to force an oppressive, intrusive, and almost unanimously unwanted development upon us in a manner that would totally alter and ruin our way of life that we so value.”

Tesco submitted two planning applications to Mole Valley Council, the second 30 per cent smaller than the first, but the authority turned them both down. The supermarket launched an appeal, leading to planning inspector Nicholas Hammans beginning a public inquiry last Tuesday.

Miss Russell told him this week that Tesco would be “callous” to ruin the semi-rural heart of the village, and councillors also raised concerns about traffic, parking and the impact on independent traders.

Ashtead Park Councillor Chris Townsend said: “It will change the ambiance, the culture, the diversity and the community spirit of the village forever.”

Christopher Katkowski QC, representing Tesco, said councillors opposed to the plans contradicted their own authority, which did not think the smaller supermarket would harm other retailers.

He said villagers living near the store would be its main customers, and therefore will not increase congestion.

He said: “If a local resident currently drives to Leatherhead to do their main shop in a big Tesco store, if they decide to come to Ashtead to do their weekly shop it’s only because it’s less distance. Driving less miles is inherently sustainable.”

Mr Hammans is due to visit the proposed site on Thursday.