The future of a leisure centre in Surrey is uncertain after a council failed to guarantee funding for its planned multi-million pound rebuild.<\/p>\n
In January, residents were told by the leader of Waverley Borough Council that the old site of Cranleigh Leisure Centre had to be replaced with a state-of-the-art eco friendly building or it would “inevitably close”.<\/p>\n
Now, with the \u00a336m project passing to the new West Surrey Council, its leadership has rowed back on funding promises.<\/p>\n
Councillor Leslie Rice (Lib Dem), portfolio holder for finance on West Surrey Shadow Authority, said: “Everything will be evidenced based, we will have to see what the facts are as we prepare the budget.”<\/p>\n
He added: “We will look at the circumstances in the best way we can, for every single community in West Surrey.”<\/p>\n
The construction of a new leisure centre <\/a>in Cranleigh was approved in March 2025.<\/p>\n Plans included a six-lane 25m (82ft) swimming pool, teaching pool, large gym, two multi-purpose exercise and activity studios and a cafe.<\/p>\n West Surrey is set to take over in April and faces huge debts inherited from its constituent councils, according to Local Democracy Reporting Service<\/a>.<\/p>\n Councillors were told agreed projects would continue until handover day, “at which point a decision would be made”.<\/p>\n ‘Really important project’<\/p>\n Jane Austin, group leader of the Conservative opposition group, said: “This is a really important project for the Cranleigh area and I’m really concerned to hear the level of non-committment.<\/p>\n “Could we have a yes or no that the West Surrey executive is backing this project and that it will form part of their budget?”<\/p>\n Rice replied: “West Surrey executive will back every single important project at every single community.<\/p>\n “Many communities have many projects which are important, none are more important than others.<\/p>\n “We will look at all of them with respect to the financial resources available.”<\/p>\n Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook<\/a>, on X<\/a>, and on Instagram<\/a> and listen to BBC Radio Surrey on Sounds<\/a>. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk<\/a> or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.<\/p>\n More on this storyRelated internet links