A RETIRED army major hopes to turn a derelict building into a community centre.
Peter Westley, 66, of Burnside Avenue in Chingford, claims he has the support of residents to build a hall for social groups and residents to socialise in.
The Chepping Hall site in Sewardstone Road, Chingford, has fallen into disrepair after a scout group left the premises years ago.
It has partially burnt down in the past and last month was briefly home to a group of travellers before they moved on.
But Mr Westley hopes to breathe new life into the site after being brought on board as the project manager by new owner, property developer Graeme Alexander.
The former chair of CBHA housing association, which managed social housing for Chingford, Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone, said: “I would love to it to become a community facility.
“It’s certainly big enough for groups to hold meetings there and for big events like parties and commemorative events.”
Mr Westley has a personal interest in the site after training Territorial Army cadets in the surrounding fields for years and believes it could benefit local people again.
“I’d hate to see it wasted. The potential is there, definitely, and we want to use that for the good of local people,” he added.
Amanda Needham, 46, whose house in Sewardstone Gardens sits opposite the site, said: “It’s an eyesore, it’s been burnt out and it’s not nice to look at.
“There’s not much around here for young kids to do so it would be good for my six-year-old boy to have a place to play and meet other children his own age, I think it’s a great idea.”
Neighbour Natasha Muthuramar, 30, added: “There’s not really a place for people to meet up here so it would be nice to turn it into something we can enjoy.”
Her husband, 32-year-old Venga Muthuramar, said: “It would bring people closer together which is really important. For me I don’t know who’s my neighbour so it’s better to have a chance to get to know each other.”
The owner of the site is hoping for planning permission from the council for the community hall.
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