Hopes of using a former chapel for a summer arts festival were dashed in a council meeting on Wednesday night, after the Victorian building was described as ‘absolutely not suitable’.

The Epsom Guardian reported back in November community group MGSO4 were planning to renovate Horton Chapel, in Haven Drive.

While those plans are not officially off the table, a borough council meeting heard the chapel will not be ready in time for this year’s Epsom and Ewell Arts Festival in late June.

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Labour councillor Kate Chinn asked the strategy and resources committee meeting to clarify the state Horton Chapel is currently in.

Councillor Clive Woodbridge replied by saying it is in such a state of disrepair that there would be no way the June 24-26 festival could be held there.

He said: “It’s potentially a health and safety hazardous environment.

“It’s semi-derelict and it’s absolutely not suitable to use as a venue in June or July.

“It’s not safe and there are trip hazards – and this has been communicated to the community group who were interested in using it.”

Maria Reeves of MGSO4 said she was anticipating this to be the case, and there remains an intention to use the chapel at some stage for a community-based art project.

She said: “It’s not in a great state – there’s no running water or electricity.

“But we’re still looking into using it at some point.”

Coun Chinn said despite difficulties it is ‘more likely than not’ the chapel will be used for a community purpose because the number of planning restrictions mean ‘it’s not worth selling’.