Three Footpath CIL Applications Agreed - Feb 2018

Following a presentation at the December 2017 Open Meeting and discussions and agreement at various Committee Meetings it was agreed that the Trust would submit applications for 3 footpath improvements to the Communities Infrastructure Levy funding committee (CIL). These had been identified by the Footpath working group and two projects proposed were for new footpaths and one for some significant improvement work. The 3 projects are:

• New footpath at the bottom of Leigh Hill Road, this will take advantage of the clearance work that Elmbridge Council completed for Leigh Hill Common and will result in a footpath being laid through the common area. The bottom of Leigh Hill Rd does not have a footpath so pedestrians have to walk on the verge or on the road
• New footpath on Downside Common - connecting the area near to the Cricketers Pub with Downside Common Rd. This will provide an easily accessible walking route all year long across the Common
• Footpath improvement works to the path alongside Knowle Hill Park and behind Lodge Close. This footpath has suffered from a lack of maintenance in recent years and in the winter becomes virtually impassable, very overgrown, muddy, narrow and slippery. With the support and advice of Surrey CC who are responsible for the ongoing maintenance this will be resurfaced with a loose, porous material in keeping with the rural nature of the path to a width of 1.5m.

We were delighted to be successful in all 3 applications at the end of February 2018 and were awarded a total of £49,725 of CIL funding by Elmbridge Council. Cobham Heitage will support this with a contribution of £8775. In line with the conditions of the Communities Infrastructure Levy all works need to be completed in the 2018-19 financial year.

We will be working with Elmbridge Council and Surrey CC who will be responsible for the specification, tendering and completion of the works.