Scout groups receive funding boost from council

Councillors sitting on the Policy and Resources Committee approved funding requests from Batchworth Sea Scouts and 1st Chorleywood Scouts, totalling £315,000, on Monday, 09 June.

The funds will come from the council’s Community Levy Infrastructure (CIL) pot- a charge on developers.

The Chorleywood Scouts will receive £190,000 to help refurbish their HQ, which was built in 1956, to a useable standard. The hall closed in the summer of 2024 following an inspection that led to the discovery of critical safety issues.

The proposed works include improved disabled access and disabled toilet facilities, new kitchen installation, new toilet provision with gendered and unisex facilities, rewiring, fire prevention measures and fire alarm, modern insulation, more efficient water heating and reorganisation of internal areas.

The Batchworth Sea Scouts, which opened in 1968 and currently has more than 150 families involved in the group, will receive £125,000 to help replace the roof as it has outseen its lifespan and is now failing.

Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Leader of Three Rivers District Council, said: “It’s fantastic that we can help these two scout groups to start making essential repairs to their respective buildings.

“Scouts has made a huge impact to peoples’ lives, so I am delighted to see that they will be able to continue their invaluable work in fit-for-purpose buildings for generations to come.”