Owner Geoff Langley believes the decision to award planning permission "doesn't make any sense" as he considers the future of the store
Geoff Langley has run the store for more than 50 years
A long-standing vinyl record store in West Molesey is set to close after Royal Mail won an appeal to develop the site.
Langley Records, which has been at its present Walton Road home for more than 40 years, is due to become a customer service point and staff toilets.
The original application by landlord and neighbour Royal Mail was refused by Elmbridge Borough Council in July last year.
Officers judged the change of use from retail to storage and distribution would be "detrimental to the character of the locality".
Royal Mail appealed the decision in August, arguing the borough council had "not taken the correct approach" regarding certain planning policies.
On Wednesday (March 30) the appeal was upheld and planning permission granted.
Gary Deane, from the planning inspectorate, noted Royal Mail’s proposal "would not significantly harm the character of the local area".
Owner Geoff Langley, 80, who set up the original shop more than 50 years ago - said he is shocked at the decision.
“I can’t believe it, I don’t know how it’s happened,” he said.
“There’s nothing like Langley’s in the area, the decision doesn’t make any sense.”
Geoff Langley believes it's a 'stupid' decision
Mr Langley, who beat cancer 10 years ago shortly after his wife died from the disease, learned of the appeal decision from a colleague.
“Royal Mail hasn’t been in touch, I’ve never heard a word from them, I think that’s wrong,” he said.
“It’s stupid, what’s the point of the borough council if this happens? "We don’t need them.
“The same thing happened with the Sainsbury’s next door, it was refused but then it went through.”
Separate to the planning application is an ongoing court case between Royal Mail and Mr Langley regarding a lease dispute.
The case was suspended while the appeal was being decided, but Mr Langley said it is due to start again imminently.
As for Langley Records, the future remains unclear.
“I’ve been doing this 54 years, I suppose you could say it’s in the blood,” he said.
“It’s a long, long time, I couldn’t see myself setting up another shop.”
The store is a treasure trove of vinyl records
The planning inspectorate acknowledged that Langley Records is "very popular, highly valued and unique".
Yet it could find no grounds within current planning policy to protect a "cultural asset".
The inspector also noted a petition started to save the store.
Set up by Walton resident Fiona Davidson, it attracted more than 2,350 signatures from fans around the world.
Mrs Davidson, 41, said: “It’s very sad indeed that, despite everyone’s very best efforts, the inspectorate has overridden the borough council’s considered decision.
“The loss of Langley’s, such a major cultural institution and so highly valued within and outside of the Elmbridge Borough, will be a huge blow to Geoff Langley, to the people of Elmbridge and to the wider music loving community.
“It is clearly now a sad fact of life that non-contravention of policies overtakes the wants and needs of the locality and that beloved local independent businesses are being pushed out in such a way.
“On behalf of Mr Langley I would like to wholeheartedly thank each and every person who stepped up and showed their support.”
A spokesman for Royal Mail said: “It is our intention to extend the existing East Molesey delivery office and use this extra space to create a modern customer service point for our customers in both Esher and Molesey who visit us to collect any items of mail that we were not able to deliver to them, or leave with a neighbour, because they were out.
“We also need more secure parking for our delivery vans. We are pleased that planning permission has now been granted on appeal.”
Royal Mail also applied to be awarded costs from the borough council due to the "wasted expense" of the appeal process.
It argued the authority’s approach to decision making was "flawed".
However, this appeal was refused by the planning inspectorate.