Tesco has won its fight to build a new supermarket in Ashtead village amid fierce opposition.

Planning inspector Nicholas Hammans granted the chain permission for a store in The Street, Ashtead, after he heard evidence in an eight day public inquiry.

Campaigners who claimed the controversial development would turn the village into a “clone town” said they were surprised by his decision and went to the site to protest this morning.

Gillian Russell, founder of Save Ashtead Village Environment (Save), said: “We are extremely disappointed at the result.

“It seems that in Ashtead people power has been totally ignored, despite massive public opposition.”

Chris Grayling, MP for Epsom and Ewell, said: “I’m very disappointed that the inspector has overridden the wishes of the local community.

“Everyone has always accepted there would be a store there but most people still feel this is too big.”

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. It led to the supermarket giant launching an appeal, and Mr Hammans approved its plans for the smaller store yesterday.

The 1,499 square metre shop will be on the site of a former Esso garage, and will have two one-bedroom, four two-bedroom and three three-bedroom flats on the first and second floors. Tesco will also demolish Hobson’s Choice, in the Marld, realign and enlarge the carpark and improve the junction between Woodfield Lane and The Street.

More than 1,230 objectors wrote letters or emails to the council as part of a two year battle against Tesco’s plans, while only 39 supporters contacted the authority.

Save collected thousands of pounds in donations to fund its fight, and 6,396 campaigners signed petitions.

Mr Hammans said objectors had a “legitimate concern” about the impact on other village traders, and acknowledged that some specialist convenience stores may close down if the supermarket was too big, but added that Tesco believed its customers would provide a “significant spin-off for other businesses”.

He said: “I consider the detriment to local food and convenience shops would be outweighed by the positive contribution which a supermarket of the size proposed in Application 2 can make to the vitality and viability of Ashtead district centre as a whole.”

A spokesman for Tesco said: “We absolutely believe this will bring jobs to the area and will be an enhancement to the local high street.

“People living in the area will be our customers and we want to make sure we are good neighbours when the store is eventually built.”