Urgent Car Park Repairs Planned At Popular Recreation Spot

Published on: 13 Apr, 2025
Updated on: 16 Apr, 2025

The car park suffers significant flooding and drainage problems. Picture: Surrey Heath Borough Council

By Chris Caulfield

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Frimley Lodge Park – a popular recreation spot for families and sports enthusiasts – is to have its car park upgraded. It is said to be in such a poor state that it is beyond viable repair.

A report to Surrey Heath borough councillors read: “The main car park suffers from significant flooding and drainage issues during inclement weather that impact not only park users but also the tenants and users of the adjacent scout hut.

“In periods of heavy rain, a considerable area of the main car park is underwater and cannot be used, adding further pressure on the available areas to park.”

Last year more than 250,000 cars parked there as visitors were drawn to its mix of woodland, open space, picnic areas, playgrounds, as well as miniature railway and meadows.

That popularity has had its toll with the cost of maintaining the road surfaces and car parking increasing annually.

Council members were told it has finally reached breaking point and the entire surface needs to be replaced. Filling potholes alone is costing more than £8,000 a year.

The cost of the project was kept private during the meeting, but it will be paid for out of the borough council’s community infrastructure levy.

Another issue to be fixed is the car park’s electric system. At present it is not linked to the mains network relying instead on solar power. The report said this was not ideal on dark winter evenings and did little to light the car park, resulting in complaints.

The report read: “The car park surfacing and access road is beyond its viable life and in dire need of resurfacing.

“The costs will continue to increase year on year as the current surfacing continues to deteriorate more rapidly as its age increases.”

The work will involve replacing the access road and car park surfaces, creating ducts to install electric vehicle charging points, having mains-powered lighting in the car park and introducing painted lines to create designated spaces to increase its capacity.