Users of Teddington's daytime social centre at Elleray Hall have been invited along with residents to a meeting where the future of social centre facilities in the area will be discussed.

A series of drop-in engagement sessions will be accessible to members of the public who are interested in sharing their ideas with council officers and the architect commissioned to undertake feasibility study into a future centre.

Cllr Michael Wilson, Vice Chair of the Finance, Policy and Resource Committee, said: “Elleray Hall is not fit for purpose and the local community deserves better.

"Our feasibility study has shown we can deliver a new facility.

"However, before we move forward with our proposals, we want to update those who use the centre and the local community on our plans.

“We know that having opportunities to be sociable makes people happy and is key to a healthy, long life.

"We are developing proposals for a new and flexible space, where people can be active, engaged and motivated for decades to come.

“We want to work with service users and the local community on our plans to provide more support and more opportunities for people to connect with others and a chance to reduce some of the challenges that people may have to face as they get into older age.”

Last year, the council announced it was taking a fresh look at providing a fit for purpose building for Elleray Hall Social Centre.

It is a popular daytime social centre for residents across the borough and is especially well used by older people for whom it is something of a social lifeline.

In 2018, Richmond Council held a consultation on proposals for a possible new community hub in the area.

The current building is now reaching the end of its useful life and is becoming increasingly expensive to maintain.

Information will be published on the Richmond's website from January 29.

In addition, a series of drop-in engagement sessions are being held on:

• Tuesday 4 February from 3.30pm – 7pm at RHP offices, 8 Waldegrave Road, TW11 8GT

• Thursday 6 February from 3.30pm – 7pm at RHP offices, 8 Waldegrave Road, TW11 8GT

• Saturday 15 February from 10am – 12.30pm at Elleray Hall.