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Proposal To Turn Chantry Wood Campsite Into An Outdoor Activity Centre Or Forest School
Published on: 1 Jan, 2019
Updated on: 9 Jan, 2019
By Rebecca Curley
Local Democracy Reporter
The Chantry Wood Campsite on the outskirts of Guildford could be transformed into an outdoor activity centre.
Amenities at the Chantry Wood campsite are basic.
Current amenities at the campsite – off Halfpenny Lane, overlooking Chilworth, and which is owned by Guildford Borough Council – are not financially viable and in need of repair, according to a council report.
Water tap on site.
One of the suggestions to go before councillors next week is to refurbish the site and lease it to an organisation or business that operates countryside and woodland activity centres, often known as forest schools.
The whole of the Chantry Wood public open space (known to many as simply the Chantries) is managed by Guildford Borough Council’s countryside team and is one of its strategic SANG sites (Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace).
View of the campsite with fire pit in the foreground.
There has been a campsite there more than 50 years with basic facilities including two toilet blocks (gents and ladies), a large shed and two fire pits. Although there is public access through the field where the campsite is, camping has to be booked.
Over the past five years around five schools or scout groups have visited it per year with the rest of bookings being family groups.
However, over the past 12 months the number of daytime bookings for use as a forest school or children’s birthday party venue has increased.
While overall visitor numbers booking the site have decreased from 1,898 in 2016 to 1,263 in 2017.
Sign stating it is a private camp site.
Costs have increased: from 2015-16 that saw £5,398 in expenditure and £4,023 in income, to 2017-18 with £9,354 in expenditure and £4,695 in income.
A report to be considered by the council’s executive councillors on Tuesday, January 8, states: “Therefore, the campsite’s contribution to developing local tourism can be considered negligible. The current operation also limits the opportunities to enhance the campsite as a local outdoor education facility, which would contribute to national targets to re-connect people / children with the natural environment as well as encouraging natural play.”
A refurbishment plan is in place with a budget of £216,000 set by the council in 2016 including £116,000 of Section 106 money.
A review of potential options has been carried out before any refurbishment started.
Information panel about Chantry Wood public open space.
Councillors will discuss seven potential options for use of the site, but it is understood the preferred bid is for Option D – to carry out a small scale refurbishment and lease the area for a forest school which will run five days a week from 8am to 6pm for children aged three to five.
A path through the woods from the campsite to Halfpenny Lane.
The Chantries was purchased by Guildford Borough Council from the local Godwin-Austin estate in 1936. Further details about the original aims of councillors when it was bought to create a public open space and more, can be read in an article on the Shalford Village website.
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Responses to Proposal To Turn Chantry Wood Campsite Into An Outdoor Activity Centre Or Forest School
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Gordon Bridger (Alderman)
January 2, 2019 at 11:14 am
Turning over part of the Chantries to a private company is to keep the public off the land.
This is a most unwise proposal – this is public land.
It has been used as a camp site and now there is a real danger by handing it over to a private company it may be developed further.
Parks should not in principle be handed over to private companies.
The Chantries is flush with money – it [GBC] spent some £500,000 from SANGS on mainly maintenance. And over the next few years has £8 million to be collected from a housing tax. The parks department should be thrilled with funds flowing in.
Last year, when I saw funds allocated for this project, I asked the council for details and never got any.
Once again an important project is being presented to the Executive which needs more careful assessment.
SANG funds are legally required to be used to attract visitors away from sites such as Whitmoor Common where there are supposed to be nesting birds (actually killed off by a cold spell 10 years ago), not providing money for privately run children’s camps.
You could not make it up.
It looks like yet another example of inadequate analysis – the council really needs to reform its system.
Dave Middleton
January 2, 2019 at 11:35 am
It strikes me that this facility has been under used and subject to a lack of imagination by the council for decades.
At a time when GBC should be trying to draw more tourists to the town and wider borough, this lovely spot could be used as a proper public camp site.
There are effectively no public camp sites in the borough and with more and more people seeking to holiday in the UK, I’m sure that this site could be a good little earner for the council and thus the people of Guildford.
Having travelled on the continent, particularly in France, Spain and Portugal, there are plenty of camp sites and many villages and small towns have a ‘municipal’ camp site, run by the local authority; usually they are very clean, well run and cheap to stay at.
I live in Guildford and if the Chantries was available to individual campers, rather than formal groups, I’d happily use it in all seasons of the year.
Ian Mac
January 4, 2019 at 6:37 pm
Having lived in Guildford for 50 years and spent most of those years walking and exploring the Chantries I find it rather disturbing that Guildford Borough Council has stated that they have spent £9,354 in the year 2017/18.
Having walked there yesterday with my dog I note that nothing has changed in the Chantries for a number of years. The hut is still there, as are the two toilet blocks, so where has GBC spent almost £10,000 of taxpayers money? This is almost a 100% increase from the previous year.
Please tell me that the building of two cement fire pits didn’t cost £10,000. If it did, then someone, somewhere is taking the mick.
John Hawthorne
January 4, 2019 at 10:14 pm
I think they should leave it as it is.
I really don’t like nature to be too organised. As it is, a campsite for cubs and scouts is just right
Clare Price
January 6, 2019 at 7:43 pm
The campsite should be kept, used, and promoted not closed.
In my youth I can remember it being used on a regular basis by schools, clubs, scouts and guides. The council need a bit of imagination and drive to keep this valuable amenity alive.
The chantries are full of people doing their Duke of Edinburgh and the campsite provides an ideal venue.
I walk there regularly and fail to understand how they have spent over £9,000 in the past year. Yes they have spent money last year spraying ragwort but this is a legal requirement on the council and is not a campsite cost.
Whilst I endorse the young being encouraged to visit the countryside, they do not need a forest school, the countryside is accessible and free to all and that should be how it is kept.
What about all the dog walkers, horse riders whose paths will cross with young children? Never mind the increase in the traffic in an already busy treachorous lane!