Former legion club being left to rot, say parish councillors

A former Royal British Legion club is being left to rot, say two White Waltham parish councillors.

The club in Sawyers Crescent, Woodlands Park, has been unused since 2006.

It is now boarded up and parish councillors Joe Mullens and Heather Scott say it has become an eyesore and target for vandalism and fly-tipping.

Both Cllrs Mullens and Scott say frequent attempts have been made to find out from the legion if and when it will be sold or developed.

Legion director general Dr Chris Simpkins wrote in a reply to Cllr Scott in September that work is 'underway behind the scenes' to sell or develop the property.

He added that security firm SPS Doorguard, which looks after the building, found 'no evidence' of flytipping.

Cllr Mullens says that people who live in the area, who helped build the club in the 1970s, are complaining about its decline.

He said the legion is 'wasting its money' by letting the building 'deteriorate away'.

"It's costing them a lot of money. They're a wonderful organisation but they are allowing it to decay so much over six years," he said.

"It's right in the centre of a residential area. It's bringing the value of these properties down."

Cllr Scott added she would like to see the site used for affordable housing.

A Royal British Legion spokesman said: "We are working with local councillors to resolve both the immediate issues in relation to the security of the Woodlands club and also to agree final plans for the property, which we hope to achieve in the coming months."