Plans for new splash pad and padel courts proposed

12 hours ago

Chris CaulfieldLocal Democracy Reporting Service

Operators of Leatherhead Leisure Centre plan to replace the diving pool with a splash pad

Google A large pale yellow building with windows adjoins a glass fronted building — Operators of Leatherhead Leisure Centre plan to replace the diving pool with a splash pad

Plans for a new splash pad and padel courts in parts of Surrey have been recommended by the council.

Mole Valley District Council, which will be dissolved next year, has asked the newly formed East Surrey Council to extend leisure contracts run by the not-for-profit social enterprise GLL.

The contract runs until 2038, but councillors want it extended by five years to allow further investment in leisure centres in Dorking and Leatherhead.

Councillor Bradley Nelson said that the investment was "a no brainer".

Plans under consideration include developing a padel facility in Dorking

Getty Images Aimee Gibson plays a shot at the F1 British Grand Prix event at Silverstone she finds padel a fun and social game. — Plans under consideration include developing a padel facility in Dorking

At a Mole Valley District Council meeting, councillor Nick Wright said that GLL had been an excellent operator, adding: "The projects have the potential to increase the use of these leisure centres and are likely to be popular with the public."

Memberships have more than tripled and capital investment at Leatherhead Leisure Centre has doubled since GLL took over, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Plans under consideration include turning the out of use dive pool at Leatherhead into a splash pad and developing a padel facility in Dorking, subject to planning permission.

GLL was founded in 1993 and is one of the largest leisure operators in the UK.

The not-for-profit leisure and cultural social enterprise is run on charitable lines as a worker owned co-operative.

It operates 254 leisure centres, 115 libraries and 10 children's centres in partnership with 60 local councils, public agencies and sporting organisations.

The final decision on the plans will be made by East Surrey Council.

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