Funding for Cranleigh's new leisure centre in doubt

The future of a leisure centre in Surrey is uncertain after a council failed to guarantee funding for its planned multi-million pound rebuild.

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".

Now, with the £36m project passing to the new West Surrey Council, its leadership has rowed back on funding promises.

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."

He added: "We will look at the circumstances in the best way we can, for every single community in West Surrey."

The construction of a new leisure centre in Cranleigh was approved in March 2025.

Plans included a six-lane 25m (82ft) swimming pool, teaching pool, large gym, two multi-purpose exercise and activity studios and a cafe.

West Surrey is set to take over in April and faces huge debts inherited from its constituent councils, according to Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Councillors were told agreed projects would continue until handover day, "at which point a decision would be made".

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.

"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?"

Rice replied: "West Surrey executive will back every single important project at every single community.

"Many communities have many projects which are important, none are more important than others.

"We will look at all of them with respect to the financial resources available."

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