HOPES were renewed this week that the Home Office will find an alternative site for the paedophile secure unit after it withdrew its planning application at the last minute.
On Wednesday last week, Planning Committee councillors at Runnymede were due to decide on whether to approve the Secretary of State for Health's application regarding the former nurse's facility, Silverlands. The proposal was to make alterations in order to convert the building, located on Holloway Hill, Chertsey into a psychiatric in-patient residential clinic for sex offenders.
Cllr Frances Barden said the proposal was withdrawn at the last minute because ministers knew they were fighting a losing battle.
She said: "Council officers had recommended that the application be refused because Silverlands is a listed building and they felt the alterations would spoil its character. I believe we are beginning, at least, to make some headway."
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