A meeting to discuss the future of the Horton chapel and water tower and other issues planned for Wednesday April 29 has been postponed until Monday June 8.

The meeting, to be held at Southfield Park School, Epsom, was called by Epsom and Ewell Borough Council.

The owner of the water tower, London and Quadrant, declined to attend the public meeting called by Epsom and Ewell Borough Council but will hold its own exhibition to show its proposals for the tower at Southfield Park School on Wednesday, May 6 from 4.30pm to 7.30pm.

The council is to call a second public meeting to be held at the school on Monday, June 8 at 7.30pm.

This week’s meeting was called to discuss environmental and educational issues as well as the chapel and water tower but the forthcoming county elections would have made it difficult for council officers to speak freely - in the run up to an election there are strict rules on what they can say.

Frances Rutter, interim chief executive for Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, said: “We appreciate that many will be disappointed that the April 29 meeting has been postponed, but it has been done for the best of reasons.

“Residents’ views are very important to us and we do hope that by delaying the meeting until Monday June 8 we will be in a better position both to give more information to the public and to secure the attendance of the right people to take on board the various concerns raised.

“In the meantime, I would like to reassure residents that the Council has agreed to spend £15,000 on improving the security of Horton Chapel and preventing further deterioration while its long term future is considered and this work will be underway imminently.”