One of Ewell's oldest buildings has been saved from developers after a local school put in an offer at the 11th hour.

Glyn House, a grade II listed building which has been in the heart of the village since 1836, together with part of its grounds, was sold by Try Homes to Ewell Castle School last Friday for more than £1 million.

Members of Ewell Village Residents' Association say they are thrilled with the handover, which ends months of worry as the building's fate hung in the balance.

But their current concerns centre around Try Homes' plans to build 14 houses and flats on land which they kept back from the sale.

Chris Pottinger, chairman of the Ewell Village Residents' Association, said: "We are opposing an application submitted by a developer to build several three-storey town houses in the house's car park, which we feel is too intensive for the site."

But he added: "We are very pleased the school has taken over the house provided that they can sort out problems with traffic around the school."

Ron Fewtrell, principal of Ewell Castle School, is planning to move five classes from one of the school's buildings in Spring Street into Glyn House by November.

He said: "This is great for the community and great for us. The school is currently based on two sites in the village but now we will be able to expand into a third.

"There are bits and pieces we need to do inside the building first, but we hope to be able to move in after the autumn half-term."

But local author and historian Charles Abdy said Surrey County Council, which originally owned the building, should have kept Glyn House as a public building: "It is a great pity that Surrey County Council has seen fit to sell off in this way what should be a public asset.

"The best that can be said for the sale is that it is probably better for a school to take over this property than a private purchaser, since they are more likely to be sympathetic to allowing a certain amount of public access."

But he added: "Of more concern is the proposed development of the car park area of Glyn House."

July 12, 2002 16:00