SURREY County Council has been accused by one of its own members of committing "heritage crime" by failing to repair the borough's most significant historical building.
The roof of Reigate Priory, which has been described as the jewel in the borough's crown, was damaged by snowfall two years ago.
Reigate Priory Museum, housed in the affected part, subsequently closed in February 2011. No repairs have taken place in that time and there is no prospect of the museum reopening soon.
Angela Fraser, chairman of the Reigate Priory Museum Society, and county councillor for Banstead East, said: "It is nearly two years since water seeped into the Priory building.
"No repair work has been undertaken whatsoever, and we are unable to get into the museum rooms.
"I really am a very angry chairman. I am very frustrated that nothing is being done. We have missed the whole of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year when undoubtedly we would have had an exhibition the like of which the visitors would never see anywhere else. That has passed, the Olympics has passed."
"The whole thing has been an utter disgrace," she added.
"If you don't maintain a listed building, it is heritage crime."
She questioned a decision by county councillors to spend £5 million on a Magna Carta visitor centre in Runnymede when buildings such as the Priory were in urgent need of repair.
The Priory, in Priory Park, is owned by Reigate and Banstead Borough Council but leased by Surrey County Council. It is Grade I listed and also, unusually for such a building, a scheduled ancient monument.
English Heritage must sign off any proposed repair works.
David Brock, principal inspector of historical buildings for English Heritage, said it was waiting on a report from the council, but the latest communication suggested they had commissioned an engineer.
The council was unable to comment before the Mirror went to press.
