Waverley Borough Council is delighted to announce the opening of the newly refurbished play area at Sandy Hill in Farnham. The project, which commenced in early February, has transformed the playground into a vibrant and inclusive space for local children and families.
The refurbishment, which followed a consultation with residents, was funded by a grant from Surrey County Council’s Your Fund Surrey Small Community Projects Fund and a generous donation from a local private benefactor. Following unexpected drainage issues, Waverley Borough Council also contributed additional funding to bring the project to fruition.
The design of the play area was carefully crafted to meet the needs of the local community, providing inclusive and accessible elements for children of all abilities. The consultation allowed residents to vote for their favourite design from a shortlist of innovative options and the final design reflects the preferences and needs of the Sandy Hill community, offering a variety of climbing structures, swings, slides, and interactive play zones.
Councillor Steve Williams, Waverley Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability, said:
“The collaboration and contributions from all parties have been crucial in bringing this project to fruition; most importantly, the involvement of residents who called for there to be more inclusive play equipment has been at the heart of this project, leading to the creation of a wonderful play area that truly reflects the community’s needs. We are thrilled with the result and look forward to seeing local children enjoy this exciting new space.”
Councillor Catherine Powell, Surrey County Councillor for Farnham North and Trustee of the Hale Community Centre, added:
“I am absolutely delighted that real teamwork has led to the upgrade of this much-valued playground. The team from the Hale Community & Youth Centre working with Melissa Ellenden from SHIP (Sandy Hill Inclusive Partnership) has secured funds from the Surrey County Council Small Your Fund Surrey scheme and a significant private contribution to cover the cost of the playground. Waverley Borough Council have led the project and contributed to the other costs including a new fence and access way; special thanks to Andy Fernandez for driving this through and Cllr Tony Fairclough for his support. Amazing what can be done if different groups come together around a common goal. Seeing all the kids running in and using the new equipment, laughing and playing was so uplifting – thank you to all involved.”
A small community-led opening event took place last week (Thursday 27 March), with Hale Community Centre inviting local families from the Sandy Hill estate to attend and celebrate the new playground.
Waverley Borough Council will continue to manage the ongoing maintenance of the play area.
Image shows from left to right:
Gemma Few (eibe Play Ltd), Andy Fernandez (Waverley Borough Council), Surrey County Councillor Catherine Powell, Mary Jones, Jo Goodhew (Hale Community Centre), Melissa Ellenden (Hale Community Centre), Aspen Salisbury (Hale Community Centre), Melissa Ellenden (Sandy Hill Inclusive Partnership)