SURREY: Leisure centre hopes dashed

Farnham and Godalming residents have had their hopes dashed after waiting two years for new leisure centres.

Expansions costing £3.2 million promised back in 2018 are now on hold, revealing the damage that public fear of catching coronavirus is causing the leisure industry.

But Cranleigh councillors are delighted that their multimillion pound new leisure centre project has been saved.

Councillor Liz Townsend, portfolio holder for economic development and leisure at Waverley Borough Council (WBC), said: “Leisure centres had a forced and prolonged period of closure, with no financial help from government.

“Farnham and Godalming projects will be deferred. Whilst this is disappointing, it will allow for a necessary and reasonable period of time in which we can assess the impact on the leisure industry from Covid restrictions.”

She said about half of customers returned when Waverley was able to reopen its gyms in August.

They decided the return on investment was not achievable and they will reassess the situation in 2023.

The Farnham proposal included a climbing wall, but operator Clip ‘n Climb said it was a no-go as facilities at Alton and Fleet had already opened.

Kelvin Mills, head of commercial services at WBC, said: “They felt it was too much to have another climbing facility in Farnham, it would dilute usage across the three sites and make them less successful. We challenged that but they refused to budge.”

They then looked into extending the soft play area with Places Leisure, who decided they could not take the risk due to the significant financial impact of the pandemic.

Farnham Residents Councillor Jerry Hyman, of Farnham Firgrove ward, said: “We were really looking forward to having a new climbing wall.

“I think possibly residents might say that if the council’s going to drive us up the wall then we might happily provide us with a wall to climb up.”

He questioned how realistic it was to hope for a new centre in Cranleigh, but was assured by commercial services that “to do nothing was not an option”.

Independent building surveys concluded that sustaining facilities as they are with no improvements would cost the council £6 million over the next five years.

Councillor Kevin Deanus said: “That’s throwing good money after a bad thing.”

He said they would be keeping commercial services on their toes. It is not expected to be open until 2023.

Conservative Councillor Mary Foryszewski, of Cranleigh East ward, said: “If we don’t do something soon Cranleigh leisure centre will fall down round our ears and it’s going to cost the residents of Waverley a great deal of money.

“We put up with a leisure centre that has been a poor relation to the rest of Waverley and now our opportunity I hope will be fulfilled.

“Despite the uncertainty of Brexit, a second peak, ceasing as a council – I think all of those things should be put to one side and we should actually spearhead with this project and make sure Cranleigh does get a leisure centre, so I am absolutely delighted, I think this is great news.”

The council will also still go ahead with asking for approval to extend car parking at Goldalming leisure centre to another 88 spaces, to avoid further delays in 2023.

They said although the corner of Broadwater School had not been used for over 10 years it was still considered a playing field, so they need to ask the Department for Education.