Works to ‘Your Waverley’s’ sports pavilions described by engineers as ‘critical’ have been given the go-ahead by council leaders.
This includes a large, modern extension to accommodate Haslemere Air Cadets and other community users, a balcony, as well as energy efficiency work, in particular, replacing the old and inefficient heating system with a new highly efficient air-source heat pump.
The council’s Executive will recommend that the Full Council backs its plan to spend the remaining £76,080 of £359,500 earmarked for discretionary grant projects
Cllr Mark Merryweather told his Executive colleagues that a group was set up to prioritise and identify projects that would go forward for funding from this particular council funding pot.
“This round focuses on our pavilions on which we commissioned a conditions report, and from which it became very clear that our pavilions have fallen behind on maintenance repairs.
Repairs that we have not been able to afford because we simply didn’t have the necessary funding. However, I am very pleased that at last we will, at least, be able to address some of the most severe cases. One of which is contingent upon the circumstances described in a report.
There are other projects in the pipeline, that we will enable to use up the remainder of the money to be used by the end of the year.”
Cllr Liz Townsend (Lib Dem Cranleigh) said:
It is really important that as a council we provide first-rate facilities and that we provide access for the health and well-being of our residents.
This council inherited these buildings and they have been an asset to Waverley for a very long time. I believe it is commendable that we are now beginning to look at clear improvement plans for these buildings so that our residents can enjoy them for many years to come.”
Cllr Townsend (Lib Dem Cranleigh West) is heading Waverley’s team to build a 20m new leisure centre for Cranleigh and the eastern villages.
There are currently only two leisure centres in the UK designed to Passivhaus standards. The first in Exeter was completed in July 2021 and claims to have achieved 70% efficiency in energy and 50% efficiency in water use. It would remove 11% of Waverley’s emissions.
The Cranleigh Leisure Centre scheme now has the backing of the Full Council.