SURREY County Council has spent more than £65,000 maintaining Cobgates, the vacant former council-run home in Falkner Road, since evicting its last elderly tenants in 2016.

A Freedom of Information request by Surrey’s opposition Lib Dems group has revealed the county council has left 20 buildings empty for a cumulative total of 112 years, with one building in Warlingham being vacant since 1999.

Surrey spent £307,464 in just one year in 2016/17 maintaining these vacant buildings - including £65,358.98 at Cobgates, more than any of the other empty council-owned properties.

Cobgates was once home to 50 older people and 46 staff, but was closed in mid-2016 - a year after Surrey’s cabinet signed its death warrant, together with five other “outdated” council-run homes across the county.

Mel Few, Surrey’s cabinet member for adult social care, indicated in 2015 that all six homes would retain an adult social care function.

However, two-and-a-half years later Cobgates remains vacant, with security company Camelot Europe employed to occupy the building with ‘property guardians’ for as little as £60 per week to prevent squatters.

Hazel Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council said: “It is wrong that these council buildings have been left empty without earning any rental income and not properly maintained.

“This is an utter waste of council tax payers’ money which could be much better spent on vital services for Surrey residents, many of which are being cut due to the county council’s financial crisis.”

A spokesman for Surrey County Council said: “While we have a very small number of properties that aren’t currently occupied they are kept under constant review.

“A great deal of work is going on to use these properties to either generate better services for residents or create an income for the benefit of all Surrey’s taxpayers.”