Elmbridge Council will take ownership of open land within the Whittets Ait development for recreational use by the public.

The developers of the flats, houses and offices in Weybridge have offered the land to the council and will also pay management and maintenance costs.

Councillors had previously turned down ownership of the land because they thought they

would inherit the costs of looking after the river banks.

After seeking clarification from the developers, they were told ownership of the land in the middle of the development would not include maintaining the river banks.

On Thursday, last week, the Leisure Services Committee agreed to take over the land.

This will ensure that the public can use it in the long term, as opposed to the developers keeping it.