The Caterham Community Partnership ('CCP') is inviting local residents to express their views on the future of the Soper Hall in Harestone Valley Road.

A focus group of CCP is looking into the viability of an asset transfer of the Soper Hall from Tandridge District Council to the community as an alternative to selling the building to a private developer.

The building used to be the council offices for the old Caterham and Warlingham Urban District Council, but after the new Tandridge District Council was formed in 1974 the council offices moved to the new building in Oxted. Over the years the building has slowly deteriorated but some of the offices are still in use by local businesses and organisations, such as the Volunteer Bureau and the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Graham Tapley of the Soper Hall focus group said: "We are exploring ways of getting the building ship-shape again so that it can be used by local organisations and maybe also for wedding receptions, parties, business exhibitions and conferences. Renovating the building could cost from thousands of pounds to well over a million, depending on whether the improvements are 'budget' or 'deluxe'. It is a pretty tall order, but we are a pretty active group!"

If you would like to express your views on the future of the Soper Hall you can complete the survey on the Soper Hall Regeneration Project website: www.soperhall.org.uk/