Letter: We Must Be Imaginative to Preserve What is Left of Our Heritage

Published on: 11 Dec, 2020
Updated on: 11 Dec, 2020

The Old School House, Slyfield

From: James Walsh

In response to: Anger Over Demolition Of Former School Building That Could Not Be Saved

The demolition of the Old School House at Slyfield is heartbreaking to see. Something really imaginative could have been done with this building, perhaps even preserving a link with its historic past.

I mooted in the past that the council should buy it and refurbish it as a local resource. It could have worked with Surrey County Council, for example, and opened a satellite library/community space there.

When I was a councillor in Slough ten years ago, a very similar building was due for demolishment in my ward – we saved it and it’s still a community library and local education centre instead of the ruin it had become. Personally, I think the people of Slyfield deserve better than another ugly block of flats on the site.

To be fair, the council’s hands were tied and it did not own the building. But it does need to take a look at these architectural treasures in Guildford and do more to protect them – my colleague Angela tried to get this listed, but to no avail.

We all know that many of Guildford’s treasured buildings were destroyed in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and we really must be more vigilant to protect, preserve and use what we have left. This is a lovely town with great local neighbourhoods like Stoke – let’s work harder to keep it that way.

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