Important update following latest findings
The original text of this page in green below remains largely valid, but two important clarifications have emerged:
1️⃣ The Council’s statutory duty:
The Council is legally bound to maintain and manage the land by law. A statutory duty isn’t a guideline; it’s a legal obligation — just like the requirement to file your tax return. The Council must fulfil its duty itself; there is no mechanism that allows to seek repayment of its expenses from the Charity. The Charity therefore owes the Council nothing — zero, nada. 🙂
2️⃣ The Council’s operational duty:
The Council cannot transfer its legal responsibility to a third party. Any future operator could only act as a subcontractor — paid by the Council to deliver services on its behalf — not as a lessee paying rent for the land.
The Better Future
Farnham Park deserves a solution that works for everyone. The question is not whether this place should thrive — but how.
A Site with Purpose
This land is for public recreation. Its future lies in building on that strength, not replacing it. Golf has long been the financial backbone and can continue to be so, with 18 holes preserved in full. Around it, space remains for football, cricket, running, walking, and family recreation — open and accessible to all.
A Sustainable Model
The council has already recognised that a new approach is needed. Tendering for capable operators was not wrong in principle. The key is to find the right partner:
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One organisation with a proven plan for investment and return.
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Open to the whole community, with affordable access.
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Focused on long-term stability, not short-term gain.
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Committed to reinvesting in the facilities so the site can grow and prosper.
For this to succeed, expectations must be realistic. It is fair that the council seeks repayment of what the charity rightfully owes (nothing, see above). But beyond that, the site cannot be treated as a source of surplus income. Every pound taken out is a pound not reinvested into the community. Lack investment as expressly admitted by the Council has already been the cause for financial downfall. The land was given for public benefit, and that principle must guide the future.
This way, the problems fall away:
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Green Belt is no longer an issue.
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Golf remains whole, as the charity’s strongest asset.
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The Neighbourhood Plan is respected.
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The blue parcel needs no dispute.
Our Vision
With the right stewardship, Farnham Park can continue as a living green space, financially sustainable, and enjoyed by generations to come.
