PRESSURE has been applied on six community organisations by Waverley Borough Council to relocate from the Wey Hill Youth Campus to make way for affordable housing.

Fears for the future of 1st Haslemere Scouts and District Guides, Haslemere Air Training Corps and Army Cadet Force, St John Ambulance and Wey Hill Montessori School, have grown since Waverley failed to renew their long-term leases in 2012.

Discussions on the future of the campus, which is used by more than 400 people each week, have been ongoing. Relocations for some if not all, looked increasingly likely when the borough council identified a large part of the site as suitable for 31 new homes in its strategic housing land availability plan.

Waverley issued a statement to say the air cadets and St John Ambulance are willing to relocate. Applying pressure on the Scouts, however, the council said if the group did not relocate, it would only be possible to build 32 rather than 42 new affordable homes.

It stated: “WBC is continuing to work with groups based at Wey Hill Youth Campus. The aim is to find and agree new premises for them in order to secure the two-acre site for between 32 and 42 new affordable homes.

“Positive progress has been made over the past year. The air cadets have confirmed they would like to move to new premises at Woolmer Hill School and discussions with Surrey County Council to facilitate the move are ongoing.

“St John Ambulance are willing to move to High Lane Community Centre.

“The Scout and Guide Association are considering their options which include either extending their lease for 12 months while they look for alternative premises or remaining on the Wey Hill site with a new lease.

“Should the Scouts and Guides decide to stay in their existing premises it will only be possible to build 32 rather than 42 new affordable homes.”

The town’s Scouts group was established in 1909.

Paul Buckler, chairman of 1st Haslemere Scout Group said: “The Scouts understand the pressure the council is under to build more affordable housing. The majority of young people living in Haslemere today will not be able to afford to buy houses, live-in and contribute to the community they have grown up in, and this is a concern.

“However, the current proposal outlined by the council, provides affordable housing at the potential detriment of the organisations that support the young people living in Haslemere.

“Over the last four years the 1st Haslemere Scout Group has been working with Waverley to resolve the issue of long-term accommodation for our youth organisation.

“To date, the group has not received official confirmation of either being able to stay at the current location or moving to an alternative location which allows for the same level of activities to be enjoyed by the young people of Haslemere.

“The current legal situation means we have until the end of this year to resolve the uncertainty of our future.

“We will continue to work with Waverley but our ability to provide Scouting activities within Haslemere beyond this year is currently in the power of the council to determine.”

St John Ambulance confirmed its willingness to relocate but said some changes would be needed to High Lane Community Centre to make it ““suitable” before a final decision was taken.

Flight Lieutenant Kevin Burchett, commanding officer of 1268 Haslemere ATC, said he believed the move to Woolmer Hill would be “a very positive” outcome.

“I believe we have outgrown the site,” he said.

“The space afforded up at Woolmer Hill School and its proximity to the Army Training Land would only be of benefit to the squadron especially for training purposes.

“The 1268 Squadron has been at the Youth Campus site since its formation on March 19, 1941. Obviously the move will be a sad time for us as we have so many memories here but I think the benefits highly outweigh the loss.”

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Responding to the latest development, county councillor Nikki Barton said: “While I understand Waverley is under pressure to find sites for housing in Haslemere, I trust it will recognise the vital role all these youth groups play in our community when considering the future of this key piece of land, and as a minimum give them the full support and choice with regard to relocation that they very much deserve.”