Campaigners have launched a bid to protect a wartime building for community use.

Seven members of the Mill Hill Residents’ Association have launched a public consultation to collect ideas about 80 Daws Lane and what it could be used for once it is vacated by the Sea Cadets this summer.

Speaking to the Times Series, project manager Chris Wong, said: “We have realised there’s a great lack of social facilities in Mill Hill, especially since the garden centre in Daws Lane closed.

“The civil defence building is the perfect opportunity to provide a brilliant, new community hub with lots of facilities for all ages.

“Our vision is to create a hub where people can come and socialise. There could be a cafe and an area for local artists to display their work, as well as arts and crafts and rooms for things like yoga and Pilates. These are just some ideas we have come up with but we’d really like to hear from residents to see what they would like."

People can take part in the consultation to offer their ideas for the building, and then the seven-strong team will put together a plan to pitch to Barnet Borough Council.

The two-storey building was built in 1939 as a decontamination centre in case a bomb landed in the area.

Since then the Barnet Borough Council owned property has been used for a variety of purposes including an archive centre, a temporary library and nursery school.

Mill Hill Residents Association has also successfully applied for the building to be listed as a community asset.

Mrs Wong added: “I think it’s important we have a place that is non-denominational, with no political agenda in Mill Hill. The building has ticked along for some time with a variety of uses, and now we want to take it and turn it into a fabulous community hub to benefit everyone.”

To take part in the consultation visit: www.millhillresidents.org.uk