Councillors divided over more 'house of horrors' spending

A FURTHER £200K IS HOPING TO BE SECURED FOR PIPPBROOK HOUSE

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COUNCILLORS have again questioned spending more money to save a listed gem that one claimed has become a “house of horrors”.

For years, there has been an aspiration among some members of the public and councillors to re-open Pippbrook House in Dorking Halls for community use.

Mole Valley District Council has already spent £1.4million to make the Gilbert Scott Victorian mansion, formerly the town’s library, weather tight following significant deterioration to the building during years in which it sat empty.

It had hoped to secure another £1.5million from grant funding, but its attempts have so far failed.

Later this month, the council's cabinet will be asked to agree to allocate another £200,000 - the final part of a £1.6million pot it budgeted for Pippbrook - for lintel replacements and plaster work in the west wing.