Land wanted for a new pub development could be freed up if villagers accept the offer of a new £300k playground instead of a £60k revamp of the existing play area.

However, families who have been campaigning to get the playground at West Byfleet Recreation Ground fixed up say they will fight on for what they have been promised.

Children have started their own petition and more than 2,000 people have signed online petitions calling for the play park within the recreation ground to be refurbished.

Mums Rebecca Bradshaw and Catherine Buchanan started their fight to get the work done nearly three years ago.

They secured funding by way of grants from Surrey County Council and the backing of Woking Borough Council (WBC) to generate £60,000 to fix broken equipment and update some of the play area.

Confident that the scheme was all going ahead, despite delays, they said they were shocked and surprised when a £300,000 playground on a different piece of land was offered by WBC at the last minute last week.

Marston’s Brewery held a public consultation last month displaying plans for a pub on the recreation ground – and the brewery’s materials suggest it would not be possible to retain a play area on its current site.

WBC said the offer of a new play area elsewhere is not connected to the brewery’s plans.

Families united at the playground on Wednesday (July 4) to show their support for the revamp.

Children held up posters they had created and were joined by parents and teachers from neighbouring West Byfleet Junior School who also use the playground.

Headteacher of the junior school Lesley Lawrence said: “It’s a natural community centre for the children and the parents at the beginning and end of the school day. It’s vital for their community to play and meet and greet.

“The proposal for the alternative being a pub is completely outrageous and totally unacceptable and will damage the community and opportunities for children and parents”

The junior and infant schools have a combined 700 pupils.

She added: “Both schools don’t have the space outside at the back so this is really a place to meet. We are all quite amazed by the proposals. It’s beyond belief.”

She said pupils at the Junior School had been getting involved in the debate and using the campaign as class topics.

She said the news the refurbishment is still delayed had been a “real dampener”.

At a Woking Borough Council executive meeting on Thursday June 28 the matter was tabled as an urgent item with a new proposal.

Cllr Colin Kemp, borough portfolio holder for leisure, apologised to residents for a “breakdown in communication” which had led to no work being undertaken despite the cash being available.

He said on top of the £60,000 available WBC was offering to invest an additional £240,000 to build a brand new play area, but in a different location on the recreation ground where the current one is.