A meeting of Tandridge District Council's Resources Committee took place last night, Thursday, 30th June, to consider two options for the future of the Soper Hall in Caterham. The options were to either transfer the building to the Soper Hall Community Centre Ltd. (SHCCL) or Caterham Baptist Church.

In a statement issued today by Tandridge Council a spokesperson for the Resources Committee said: "While the Committee decided the option of transferring the Soper Hall to the Caterham Baptist Church has the greatest chance of success and is the least risky, it recognised the support of Caterham councillors and residents for the option presented by the Soper Hall Community Centre Ltd. As a result the final decision has been deferred to Council on 21st July for all councillors to decide which group should take over the Soper Hall."

Graham Tapley, Chairman of the Soper Hall Group that put together the bid by SHCCL said: "I admit to total prejudice but I cannot conceive that Tandridge District Council could even consider giving an asset, an iconic asset of great historical importance, to a group with just 100 users and an optimum user number of 140. Our offering is for the widest possible use for the whole community, without exclusion based on ethos or views."

Chairman of the Resources Committee, Councillor Martin Fisher, said: "This is a complex decision to make, we have discussed it four times at Committee and during this process have considered a lot of detailed information and rejected a number of alternatives. Both options are viable as presented and would provide a future for the Soper Hall as a community centre. Whatever the outcome, we need to make sure we have made the best decision for the community and have secured the building for the community."