Community-based investment and improvement projects were approved by Surrey Heath Borough Council’s Executive at their latest meeting. The transfer of council-owned buildings to a community organisation to help protect its future use was also given the green light.
The Executive confirmed the resurfacing of the Lightwater Country Park entrance road would go ahead, along with the planting of 16 cherry blossom trees at Heatherside Recreation Ground.
These improvements will both be funded through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) fund, which is made up of payments made by developers for development taking place in the borough.
The sale of the buildings and land currently leased to Lightwater Scouts to the Scout Group was also approved. Its use as a leisure building for use by the community will be protected via a restrictive covenant.
These decisions support several of the council’s priorities, including Protecting our Environment, Promoting Healthier and More Inclusive Communities and Delivering Effective Services with Sustainable Finances.
The investment in the resurfacing of the access road at Lightwater Country Park will ensure the long-term accessibility of the site. This will help provide a safe and welcoming entrance to this popular leisure facility for residents and visitors.
The project will be organised to coincide with resurfacing works planned on the parking and access areas run by Lifestyle Fitness who operate the Leisure Centre on the site. This will ensure consistent quality surfacing throughout the site, and the single coordinated scheme will mean lower costs, less disruption for users, and better value for money for residents.
The Executive also signed off CIL funding for 16 cherry blossom trees to be planted at Heatherside Recreation Ground. The trees will add colour and interest to the popular community location, offer mental health and wellbeing benefits, as well as positively contributing to the local environment. The planting of the trees and ongoing maintenance will be the responsibility of the Heatherside Residents’ Association and Community Centre.
The sale of buildings and land at The Avenue to Lightwater Scout Group was also given the go ahead in the Executive meeting. The scout group has leased the location from the council for more than 25 years.
The transfer of the buildings to the scout group aims to empower the local community organisation, while helping protect its future as a community leisure building, with a restrictive covenant included in the sale contract.
Owning the building should also allow the scout group to seek greater funding from external parties, which should hopefully lead to greater investment in the building, benefiting all users.
The proceeds from the sale will be used to reduce the council’s outstanding debt, and therefore debt interest costs, which is a key element of the Council’s Transformation Programme and Medium-Term Financial Strategy.
Surrey Heath Borough Council Deputy Leader Cllr Alan Ashbery said:
“Investment in our local communities is one of our main priorities as a council, and these decisions demonstrate our commitment to this goal.
“The resurfacing of the Lightwater Country Park access road is something we know users of the park will be very pleased to see, and will support the long-term sustainability of this amazing local facility.
“I’m delighted the cherry blossom trees project at Heatherside has been given the go ahead with its positive effects for local people and the environment, and that both of these projects will be funded by ringfenced CIL fund money rather than council budgets.
“For Lightwater Scouts to take over the building which has been their leased base for more than a quarter of a century is an excellent result for the group and the local community. Being the owners will give them control over the facilities, the potential to raise increased funding, and also protect the building as a community leisure facility for years to come.”
Find out more about the decisions made at the Executive meeting of 21 October 2025