Children in Ashtead will finally get a desperately needed new playground after Mole Valley Council agreed to plug a potential £95,000 funding gap caused by Government cuts.

Mums feared that plans to build new facilities in Ashtead Recreation Ground would be thrown on the scrap heap after Education Secretary Michael Gove froze grants for Playbuilder schemes.

They formed the Ashtead Recreation Campaign in June last year and have raised more than £10,000 from events including a curry night, a party in the park and a fashion show. Mole Valley Council agreed this week to contribute £94,100 to ensure two threatened playground projects in Ashtead and Beare Green can continue.

Ashtead Village Councillor Chris Reynolds said the determined mothers “displayed a huge desire to improve the limited play facilities for children”.

He said: “They quickly came to realise that what Ashtead had falls far short of what other areas have.”

Ashtead Park Councillor Richard Brooke said the council’s funding would provide a legacy for the community for the next 25 years.

He said: “It also serves a part of the Ashtead community that has been under served, it is aimed at eight to 13-year-old groups that have nowhere to play.

“This is much needed and much wanted by the community, and will be used on a daily basis.”

Councillors praised the Ashtead Recreation Campaign’s “absolutely commendable” work. The group got formal charity status in June this year.

The council highlighted Ashtead - which will get £44,100 of its funds - as a priority for new play facilities, as it only has one park serving its 13,500 population, which is “well below” the National Playing Field Association’s guidelines.

Youngsters and parents from the village worked with Mole Valley Council to develop ideas for playgrounds, and 170 people voted on their favourite designs. The authority plans to start building next month, and hopes to open them by spring next year.

Coun Reynolds said: “I am keen to see the projects completed as the facilities will encourage young residents to lead healthier lifestyles while offering them somewhere new and exciting to meet up.”

The Department of Education decided to cut Playbuider grants as part of its a bid to save £1bn towards tackling the national deficit. The scheme had awarded Surrey County Council £1m to build 22 new play areas across the county by March 2011.