THE Farnham Society has not given up hope of convincing the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) of rethinking the location of its new £4 million film and media centre.

The UCA has been granted planning permission for the new state-of-the-art centre at its Farnham campus, despite representations by a group of Farnham Society members maintaining that it would be better placed elsewhere.

However, the society’s vice-president Michael Blower and planning committee chairman David Howell are set to meet the university’s deputy vice chancellor Alan Cooke later this month to discuss their proposed amendments.

In a letter to Mr Cooke, retired architect Mr Blower expressed “reservations” about the siting of the building and suggested it could be relocated further north to form a ‘square’ with the new staff office building to the west, the existing library to the east and the John Luard building to the south.

“The ‘square’,” Mr Blower said, “could function as a car park for a majority of the time but on occasions could be taken over for special events like, maybe, a film festival. If sympathetically landscaped it could prove a popular summer venue with its southern aspect.”

He added: “We see this as an opportunity to enhance the university’s public realm on the campus as well as a better use of urban planning.”

Responding, a UCA spokesman said: “The University for the Creative Arts consulted widely with local stakeholders prior to submitting a planning application for our new film and media centre to Waverley Borough Council at the end of March.

“The design and placement of the new building has been carefully considered by UCA and our appointed architects in order to most effectively meet the needs of the UCA Farnham community.

“While we are happy to agree to meet with representatives of the Farnham Society, following their invitation to us, we are now in a position where planning permission has been granted and we need to move ahead with the building.”