THE future of Pippbrook House has been a hot topic since Surrey County Council announced its intention to move Dorking Library out of the building.

Mole Valley District Council, which owns Pippbrook House, has stated it will be kept for "civic use".

But the council's plans for the building include using the upstairs for flats.

Council chief executive Darren Mepham said: "We are looking at possible uses for upstairs, including continuing use as private offices or possibly flats to help pay for keeping the public part of the building open, accessible and in civic use."

Ian Caldwell, a member of the Leave Our Library Alone campaign, said: "Converting any of Pippbrook House into flats would be a great shame.

"At the minute the Pippbrook site is an oasis for various public groups and I think using it for flats would be a huge waste of such an iconic building which is integral in the town's heritage."