THE Friends of Byfleet Fire Station are urging the public to write to Surrey County Council and show their support for the future of the old building.

Earlier this month more than 100 villagers, young and old, gathered in High Road outside the station which closed in the 1960s, to rally against its demolition.

The site, which includes the disused youth centre, was put up for sale by the county council in May and supporters fear that if a developer buys it, the treasured fire station may be demolished.

Villagers have set-up a campaign in a bid to retain the red-brick building, established in 1895, for years to come. A campaign website has been created by concerned villagers, and a petition is available to sign at the post office in High Road, Byfleet.

Chris Glasow, the village’s representative on the Byfleet, West Byfleet and Pyrford Residents’ Association, Jeff Sechiari of the Byfleet Heritage Society and Julian Temple, who works at Brooklands Museum and lives in the village, have set up the group to back the campaign — The Friends of Byfleet Fire Station.

The Friends’ website has a history timeline, giving information about the building and formation of the fire service in the village. Many residents have already visited it and left their views about the importance of the building in a guest book section.

Mr Glasow said: “We are trying to get the county council to delay the sale of the site. I know the scouts are very interested in it and we want it preserved for community use.

“We want people to write to Nick Skellett, leader of the county council, to show their support for the campaign.

“If a community organisation, such as the scouts, could have the site, then it could also be used for other organisations

“I am fighting for the residents, whereas Mr Sechiari is a member of the heritage society. Mr Temple works at Brooklands Museum as curator of aviation and his knowledge can help us find out more about preserving buildings.

“We decided to set up the Friends because we thought we needed something to bring the campaign together. We didn’t want to try and save it and then just abandon it. We wanted the campaign to have an ongoing story.

“There has been so much support for the campaign already and a lot of people have been joining the group.”

The Friends plan to stage another rally in the next month.

For more information or to join the group go to www.ByfleetFireStation.com.

Letters of support should be sent to County Hall at Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2DN. The deadline for comments is September 20