Calls grow to redevelop 'eyesore' restaurant

Councillor Tom Hunt has said the former restaurant building will stay as it is 'for the time being'

Calls are growing to upgrade an "eyesore" building owned by the council which has been earmarked for redevelopment for seven years.

Guildford Borough Council bought the site of the Old Orleans restaurant in Bedford Road in 2018 as part of its plans to redevelop and "open up" the wharf area.

Mark Worley, who says he frequently visits the area, said: "This area here potentially could be very attractive, it's by the riverbank, but it's an absolute eyesore."

But the council says it needs to agree on a way to protect it from flooding with the Environment Agency before work can begin, and there was "quite a long timeline" ahead.

The authority recently commissioned murals to be painted on the building which it said was to "make it a little bit more loved than it has been".

Mr Worley said: "The murals themselves, you could argue they help, but it's been derelict now for about 15 years.

"This whole square, and indeed the whole of the riverside in Guildford, needs sorting out and opening up."

'Significant investment'

Another local resident, who did not give his name, told BBC Surrey: ""The whole area needs comprehensive regeneration.

"The flood alleviation scheme is just a bureaucratic excuse."

Deputy council leader Tom Hunt said: "It's in a poor state of repair and will take quite a significant amount of investment to bring it up to a state where it could be used.

"I've talked to people who are interested, and they've had a look and then said 'thank you but no thank you'."