THE fate of the dilapidated Shottermill Village Hall has been sealed after Waverley agreed to demolish the building. Numerous incidents of vandalism and an attempted arson attack had led to fears that the building could be burnt down, posing a threat to the nearby homes and Shottermill Infant School. But at a meeting of Waverley Borough Council, WBC executive committee last week, John Robini, Waverley's portfolio holder for community safety said: "Waverley, local residents, the fire service, police and other local groups are understandably concerned about the recent incidences of vandalism and arson at the hall. "While assessments undertaken of Shottermill Village Hall by Waverley have found that the building cannot yet be described as a dangerous structure, it is causing problems which could impact on the continued safety of local people. "The council has, therefore, decided to step in now and remove the risk of further anti-social incidents." The decision follows a turbulent year for Shottermill Hall, during which its future hung in the balance. Last year, WBC turned down a planning application from the housing developer, Premier Properties, to build five terraced homes on the quarter-acre site, on the grounds that the hall was a treasured local amenity and the houses wouldinvade the privacy of neighbours. Shottermill Infant School's headteacher Cathy Cooke is relieved that the hall will be razed to the ground: "I'm very pleased it has finally been sorted out because obviously it's been a health-and-safety issue for some time. "It means that the school will be more secure now, which is a bonus for our little ones and our neighbours." Despite plans to redevelop the site into a sustainable community venue, the trustees of the hall were taken aback by the enormous cost of refurbishing the building, built by public subscription in memory of local people who fell in the first world war. It was thought that more than £100,000 would have been needed to restore the hall, and despite efforts to attract investors to the project, there has been little interest. The cost of demolishing the building will be funded by Waverley Borough Council on the condition that the costs are reimbursed when the land is sold. None of the trustees was able to comment on the present situation or give any indication of how they will proceed with the demolition. Further discussions are set to take place to determine the future of the site.
