ANOTHER battle has been won by campaigners in the war to save Arthur Conan Doyle's Victorian house from falling into disrepair. Undershaw, located next to the Hindhead traffic lights, was designed by the author of Sherlock Holmes in the 19th century, and he wrote some of the famous detective's most classic cases there. After it was sold in the 1930s, the Grade II- listed building remained in the same ownership for 70 years before being bought in 2005 by Desmond Moore, who hoped to develop it into houses. Campaigners, including The Haslemere Society, The Victorian Society and a Doyle biographer, joined forces to keep the house's literary heritage alive. And although two plans for the house were rejected by Waverley Borough Council in December, the groups were still fuming at the state the house into which the house has been allowed to fall. Stained glass windows have been smashed, rain leaks through the roof, and campaigners claim there is evidence of drugtaking and vandalism on the site. But at Tuesday night's executive meeting, Waverley Borough Council agreed to serve an urgent works notice on the owner - forcing him to repair the roof and restore any damaged areas back to the condition they were in when he bought the house. The expected cost of shielding the worst-hit areas with a tin roof, and of repairing the other areas, is around £64,000. If the owner does not carry out the work promptly, Waverley Borough Council can do it and reclaim the money from him. The executive discussed the matter in public without revealing details included in an exempt report. They endorsed the officers' action in serving an urgent works notice, but discussed the next step in private session. Planning officer John Anderson told councillors an email had been received from an architect working on behalf of the owner, expressing concern about the timing of the notice, which was served on December 22 and took effect on January 8. The owner was said to be out of the country and unaware of the notice. Nevertheless, instructions had been given for works to be carried out to the building. Mr Anderson said that officers had inspected the premises and found there had been some boarding up and that tarpaulins had been placed on the flat roofs. The historic buildings officer was not satisfied with the extent of the work, however, and the owner should now be advised what further work was needed to comply with the notice, he said. The report to the executive described it as "unlikely" that permanent repairs would be undertaken for at least a year. After hearing the result Robert Serman, president of The Haslemere Society, welcomed the decision but said it should have happened sooner. He said: "It is appalling that this was not done six months ago. Even in the last two months, the amount that has happened to that building is huge. In November, the stained glass windows were fine - now they are smashed." However, he added that the society had parties interested in buying the property, and felt that this, along with the rejection of two plans before Christmas, meant that it was moving forward in its bid to save Undershaw. He said: "Given that we have had firm interest in buying it, we do have grounds for optimism. "It is just whether the owner will accept that he will not profit from the sale. He paid £1.1 million, and given there does not seem to be development potential, I would not think it is worth that much now." A Waverley spokesman told The Herald: "The executive's clear message to officers is that they should continue to do whatever is necessary to protect the building whilst recognising that there is still a lot of discussion to take place with the owner and a need to look at all the options. The executive has asked officers to report back at its meeting on February 6."
