Nearly £100,000 is being traised to help transform a "neglected" and "unloved" building in a Carshalton park into a new community space.

Sutton and District Training, which aims to equip adults and young people with new skills, wants to redevelop the former police stables and workshop in Grove Park.

The idea is to fit it with a new roof, refurbish both its exterior and interior, and bring in a new shop front so it become available to the wider public.

It would then be able to host various activities, such as arts and crafts events as well as social occasions.

Although the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has pumped £40,000 into the project, there’s not long left to meet the £96,662 as it must be achieved before December 17.

Sutton and District Training director George Panteli said: “On a hot day there are so many families and young people and the older generation [in Grove Park] and what we're trying to do is bring this building for them back into use.

“The people I'm speaking to are desperate for somewhere to go and meet, be creative, play bingo, play cards, and have a cup of tea and coffee with like-minded people where they can go and sit and talk.

“Young people looking at starting up new businesses, they've got nowhere to talk to others or get ideas. We're also looking at creating a little business hub if we can, where people can come in and use the facilities, internet, talk, and communicate.

“It's a big project which is why it's really been left empty and derelict for so many years because it needs everything doing. I don't think there's any part of it that doesn't need touching - from a complete new roof to new floors.

“We want to bring it back to life for the community, for community use, as well as training within our own company.”

A grant of £40,000 was secured by the project from the Crowdfund London initiative at City Hall, in Southwark, on October 25.

The money raised overall will cover a portion of the necessary costs while the rest will be backed by Sutton and District Training.

One complete, there will be plans to find a community group to help manage it during the next three years.

A total of £42,133 has been pledged by 105 backers to the “Save Our Stables Grove Park” project at the time of publishing.

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