THE long-awaited development of Caterham's most notorious eyesore could have moved a step closer.
Public consultation meetings will soon be held concerning the future of the former Rose and Young car showroom site, in Croydon Road, which has stood empty and derelict for more than 20 years.
The public meetings at Soper Hall in Harestone Valley Road will take place on Monday, January 14, from 1 to 5pm, and the following day between 4 and 7pm.
Back in September, the site's South Africa-based owners were threatened with legal action by Tandridge District Council over the state of the building.
They were told to carry out radical improvements by a January 13 deadline, or face it being demolished.
Failure to comply with the demand could lead to prosecution, and mounting daily fines.
Julian Black, from Kent-based urban designers Kember Louden Williams, said: "We have recently been approached by the owners of the former Rose and Young site to explore opportunities to regenerate the site with a view to putting together a planning application for redevelopment.
"We will consider everyone's comments and will incorporate as many as possible into the formation of our proposals."
But former district councillor Peter Longhurst, who lives in nearby Beechwood Road, said: "Maybe I'm being cynical but the fact they are holding their meeting the day after the council deadline sounds like they may be stalling for time."