Eight months since a company announced its intention to carry out a multi-million pound restoration and reopening of the Chequers Hotel site in Horley , the building has slipped further into disrepair.
The intended restoration was announced in September 2017 after the site, which has been closed since December 6, 2013, was bought by Nine Group.
The plan was to turn it into a four star hotel and create up to 60 jobs, however the site remains closed and in worse repair than before, leading locals to wonder what is happening with it. No planning application has yet been submitted or any further consultation carried out over the plans.
Nine Group’s current portfolio of hotels includes ones managed by Ibis, Holiday Inn and Mercure but it is not yet known what branding the Chequers Hotel would be run under.
Chris Tollast, 61, a local historian from Skipton Way, said: “I live locally and I read the article about the relaunch back in September.
“Apart from some sort of cosmetic tidying up, I’m concerned that there is damage there and I just don’t know what’s going to happen with it.”
Mr Tollast reported that there was damage to several windows on the building, including the window facing the A23, Bonehurst Road.
(Image: Grant Melton)
He continued: “I want it to be maintained. If windows are being smashed then who’s looking after it? I don’t want to see any more vandalism on the site when it was supposed to be something quite beautiful for the community.
“It’s got lots of history. Coaches and horses would stop there on their way to London back in the old days. I would look forward to the day when it’s a hotel and a pub again, getting people drinking and eating there. I just want to know what’s going on now.”
A spokeswoman for Reigate and Banstead Borough Council said: “We have not received any planning applications or requests for pre-application advice on the site and have not been made aware of any change in ownership since last reported in September.”
Councillor for Horley Central, Andrew Lynch, added: “I know that part of it’s been sold off and there are three apartments and a vets there that should be opening in 2018.
“I don’t know what’s going on since the statement was made that it was going to be reinstated and employ 60 people because 60 people lost their jobs when it closed.
“On a personal basis I’d love to see the hotel open again and employing local people. It would be great if they do what they said they’d do, but other than that we’re non-the-wiser.
“You’d have thought they would want to be up and running in the summer but there you go, and we’re not getting any news from them at all, but sometimes these things can take time I suppose.”
Nine Group and their CEO, Vivek Chadha, have been approached for comment.