HASLEMERE Recreation Trust is appealing for more support for plans to change its use, which it claims will benefit the town.

There have been 15 objections to the trust’s proposal for the cricket club pavilion at the war memorial recreation ground pavilion, next to Old Haslemere Road, to become a mixed use facility and share the premises with a day care centre for up to 35 children.

Trust secretary Michael Walsh has warned that if the application is turned down, Haslemere Cricket Club may have to vacate the premises as it cannot afford the annual £10,000 costs it incurs as the sole user of the pavilion.

The cricket club originally shared the long lease for the pavilion from Waverley, taken out in the 1990s, with a football club, a bowls club and a tennis club, with neighbouring Haslemere Prep School provided additional financial support.

The other sports clubs have since relocated and the school has shut, and the cricket club is struggling to pay its way.

“It’s unfeasible for the cricket club to finance it on its own,” Mr Walsh said. “There are hundreds of cricket clubs that sublet their pavilions, Elstead is a good example. What we are trying to do is no different.

“The biggest problem about the pavilion is its size. The annual costs is £10,000 and that’s without repairs.

“Wey Hill Montessori is keen to move in and it’s a logical fit. It’s Monday to Friday during the day, not weekends and not holidays.”

Residents have objected that a ‘commercial set-up’ is not a suitable use and that Waverley would demonstrate a ‘conflict of interest’ by agreeing the plan.

The borough council is currently trying to relocate the nursery, together with the town scouts and guides, Haslemere Air Cadets and St John Ambulance from the site they share at the “Youth Campus” between Wey Hill and Weydown Road, in order to build 30 new homes.