NEARLY £500,000 of funding has been signed off by the county council to boost village centres across Surrey, including Hale chapels and Tilford’s playground project, and shopping parades.

At the same time as Surrey signs off nearly half-a-million pounds, 21 groups county-wide were handed up to £30,000 each from the council’s community improvements fund for projects worth more than £3.1 million in total.

Hale Chapels Trust, has been awarded £30,000, to restore the two chapels into a community centre for the benefit of the people of Hale and Upper Hale, and the wider community of Farnham, contributing to the conservation and heritage of the area and advancing public education and interest in the history of the area.

The buildings are listed being built of local flint and stone and are considered an important local landmark.

Once restored, the buildings will form an active community asset and much-needed community centre in an area containing pockets of high deprivation. The total cost of the project is £350,000.

Tilford Parish Council has also been awarded £10,000, to replace the play equipment in the Jubilee Play area in Shepherds Way, as much of the equipment has been removed for health and safety reasons.

The aim is to replace the equipment with new and exciting apparatus, which will appeal to different age groups as well as offer something for those with disabilities. The total cost of the project is just under £26,000.

Surrey leader David Hodge approved the funding only after “thinking long and hard” because of the enormous strain on finances from rising demand for services like adult social care.

He said: “With ever-growing demand for services like adult social care making money extremely tight, we had to think long and hard about providing these grants.

“But we decided to go ahead because not only will the money we’ve given these projects help secure more than £3.1 million of benefits for Surrey, it will ensure our experience of living and working in the county continues to be great while also boosting our economic prosperity throughout our communities.”