PLANS to turn the former ex-servicemen’s club in Chiddingfold into a children’s gym have been met with a mixed reception.

Waverley Borough Council has applied to change the use of the building from a drinking establishment to a leisure facility.

The change of use for the club in Woodside Road, which closed its doors almost two years ago, is causing a storm of protest with some

villagers, who have fears about the extra traffic and parking problems that the applicant Lil Gymnastics, a franchised children’s gymnastic development facility, would create.

Chiddingfold Parish Council has said it has no objections to the change of use for the club which was initially sold to a Godalming-based developer for housing.

But Chiddingfold Baptist Church, which submitted a failed bid to run it as a community centre and successfully appealed to Waverley to save the building and list it as an asset of community value, is believed to have a continued interest in buying the building, formerly known as The Villagers.

The former club is still owned by it members each of whom could expect a payout out or more than £4,000 if its home is demolished and turned into housing.

Objecting to the application, a neighbour wrote: “The Villagers is now an eyesore to all approaching Wildwood Close; unkempt and uncared for and in desperate need of gardening attention.

“The fact it has failed is sad, but we understand why.

“If the proposed change of use is granted and if it is successful, it will generate a large amount of traffic.

“But if it fails we will be back to square one again.”