A community hall which was razed to the ground three years ago, making a pre-school and a number of community groups homeless, is finally rising from the ashes.
Strawson Hall in Horley was torched by arsonists in May 2015, just six months after a huge £75,000 refurbishment project, which took six years, had been completed.
After gaining planning permission for a new expanded building in 2016, the hall’s trustees hoped it would reopen that year.
(Image: Gareth Hulin)
But after Surrey County Council withdrew funding, they had to go back to the drawing board and get a new set of plans approved.
They also had to raise £50,000 to cover the shortfall on the insurance payout and ongoing costs, including the £4,500 annual rent to the council.
Work has now started and it is hoped the hall, in Albert Road, will be finished within six months.
Chairman of trustees Doug Kilborn said: “It has been a struggle, but we are finally there, we are beginning to start.
“The plan is to be ready for the pre-school to move back at the beginning of September. Some of our other previous users are returning but others are not because they have found accommodation they are happy with elsewhere.
“The new building is going to be timber but it is going to be all fire retardant materials,” he added, “and the place is going to be crawling with [security] cameras.”
No-one has ever been charged in connection with the fire.