Issue - meetings

One petition of 1,348 signatories has been received.   It requested that the Council; a) Halt the demolition of Longmead Adult Education Centre in Redhill, b). Retain the Edwardian character of the building, and c) Develop it into a community hub.  The response to the petition was published as part of the supplementary agenda and on the petitions website.

Ms Maulucci presented the petition.

One petition of 1,348 signatories has been received.   It requested that the Council; a) Halt the demolition of Longmead Adult Education Centre in Redhill, b). Retain the Edwardian character of the building, and c) Develop it into a community hub.  The response to the petition was published as part of the supplementary agenda and on the petitions website.

Ms Maulucci presented the petition and included the following points:

·         That this was a historical building that should not be lost to the area

·         The building was structurally sound.

·         Local architects had designed a community function and restored the historical features.

·         The local council had objected to the demolition.

She also requested a written response to several questions:

·         Have you considered using Longmead outside space or another car park or other location to temporarily house Colebrook? Please share you viability study with the public?

·         Please can you share publicly full details of the grant form Homes England including which site it is for, what conditions and what type of homes it will deliver?

·         Please confirm that this will be for truly affordable homes, NOT shared ownership and NOT feudal and unfair residential leasehold with abhorrent ground rent?

The Cabinet Member for Resources stated that he would provide Mrs Maulucci with the additional information requested and also confirmed that the building was in a significant state of disrepair.

Mrs Natalie Bramhall, as the local Member, stated that The Reigate Society had never taken any interest in this building and Reigate & Banstead Council had locally listed the building, but it was not protected.  It was suitable for provision of affordable housing and a fit for purpose community hub.  She went on to say that council needed to take difficult decision sometimes and that provision of housing was what Redhill really needed.

The Leader added that he accepted that the situation needed better explanation to residents and hoped that Mrs Maulucci would help in that regard.  He also explained that the demolition had stopped whilst the council waited for the determination from Historic England in response to the application.