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Update on Freshford Village Memorial Hall Redevelopment plans, and Notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting to approve the conversion of Freshford Village Memorial Hall (registered charity 304545) to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
As many local residents will be aware, the trustees of Freshford Village Memorial Hall have been examining possibilities for the future development of the Hall building for many years. Hewitt Studios carried out a feasibility study in 2013, but unfortunately, the value of the proposed rebuild at over £2 million, has been unrealistic to finance in the current funding climate for community buildings, particularly outside areas of deprivation. The trustees of Freshford Village Memorial Hall are now considering a phased redevelopment of the Hall including renovation of the existing main hall space, with purpose built annexes or extensions to provide accommodation for Freshford Pre-school and Freshford doctor's surgery. The Trustees feel a phased redevelopment will be more achievable as different aspects of the project can be implemented as and when relevant funding becomes available. The first step in this process is to gain planning permission or a Community Right to Build Order for the plans for a redeveloped Hall. Planning permission or the equivalent Community Right to Build Order for communities with a Neighbourhood Plan such as Freshford and Limpley Stoke is a necessary prerequisite for all grant applications for capital works. A further initial step is to convert Freshford Village Memorial Hall registered charity 304545 to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). A CIO is a corporate body that has its own legal identity, which is separate from that of its trustees and members, meaning it can directly enter into contracts; employ staff; incur debts; own property; and sue and be sued. This will reduce the personal liability of the trustees prior to the Hall engaging in major contracts for the Development project. Further benefits of the CIO structure, include providing access to additional grants and social enterprise loans, which are only available to community organisations with an incorporated legal structure. The Hall trustees are currently aware of Community Buildings Project Support grant funding made available by the Department for Communities and Local Government, which would be suitable to fund the professional fees necessary to take the Hall's redevelopment plans to a Community Right to Build Order. Notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to be held on Wednesday 26th July at 7.30pm to approve the conversion of Freshford Village Memorial Hall from an unincorporated association (registered charity 304545) to a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) is attached. Also attached is a background information paper explaining the benefits of converting to a CIO, and the formal notice that we must provide under the Charities Act 2011 for transferring land held on charitable trust to another organisation. Local residents are very welcome to attend the EGM, propose new trustees or raise any queries or concerns in advance with the Chair of Trustees, Claudia Towner on management@freshfordvillagehall.co.uk. Further updates to the local community on Hall development plans will be provided over the coming months. At the moment we have a separate planning application in with Bath and NE Somerset Council to replace the failing felt roof to the main hall with insulated roof panels. Due to the increased frequency of roof leaks it is important that we proceed with this work as soon as possible, but we hope to have converted to a CIO before we appoint contractors to do the work. Claudia Towner, Chair of Trustees, Freshford Village Memorial Hall |
Freshford and Limpley Stoke Fete raised over £5300!!
An enormous THANK YOU to everyone for your tremendous help and support with this year's Freshford and Limpley Stoke Fete. We hope the money raised will be used to support the replacement of the main hall roof, for which we currently have a planning application under consideration. Whether you supplied bottles or books, sold raffle tickets, put up gazebos, took down gazebos, helped out on a stall, manned the gates, or generously spent your money... we could not have done it without you, so thank you! Raising funds for Freshford Village Memorial Hall (registered charity 304545). |
First Aiders needed for Freshford and Limpley Stoke Fete - 10th June
Despite being booked nearly 3 months ago, yesterday St John's Ambulance pulled out of providing First Aid provision at Freshford and Limpley Stoke Fete on 10th June, because they say they cannot find anyone to provide cover. To show a 'Duty of Care' we must provide First Aiders for the Fete, but are now hoping to do this through using local people who are either medical professionals or have a full HSE First Aid at Work certificate. We will provide First Aid tabards for the designated First Aiders, ensure there are at least 2 complete comprehensive First Aid kits available in the Fete HQ gazebo, and ensure there are always at least 2 of the designated First Aiders always present at the Fete. Would you be able to support us in this way, for some or all of the afternoon? The Fete runs from 1-5pm, and if you don't want to be at the Fete for the whole afternoon, we just need to know between which times you will guarantee to be there. Hopefully, no incidents will arise, so you will be free to enjoy the Fete! If you are able to support us in this way, please email Claudia Towner on management@freshfordvillagehall.co.uk. |
FLiSCA EGM - Monday 19th June, Limpley Stoke Village Hall at 7.30pm
The Galleries Shop and Café is owned on your behalf by the Freshford and Limpley Stoke Community Association (FLiSCA), a charity which ploughs any surpluses back into the community through an annual grants scheme. There are several activities that need to be undertaken, and the existing FLiSCA board is calling an EGM for Monday 19th June at Limpley Stoke Village Hall, starting at 7.30pm. It is a requirement that at least 21 days' notice is given for an EGM, and this is the earliest possible date following the FLiSCA board meeting of 22nd May. This EGM is open to all residents, it is a forum for you to have your say. The key activities that need to be undertaken are: * Confirmation of the role of Treasurer * Confirmation of GMG Chair * Election a new Chairperson * Possible appointment of a Secretary Please note that it has been suggested that the role of Secretary should cover both FLiSCA and The Galleries. It is requested that notification of potential Applications for the role of Chairperson is provided to the acting Secretary, John Adler (john.adler@hotmail.co.uk<mailto:john.adler@hotmail.co.uk>), by Friday 19 June for the purposes of aiding the preparation of ballot papers, should they be required. Please remember that this meeting is Open to which the whole community, and therefore is open to all living here. To re-iterate, this is a forum for you to have your say, so please do come along. |
Freshford on film, 1974
The film of Freshford in 1974 is now online and can be viewed from this link: |
Would you be a Parish Councillor?
Freshford’s Annual Parish Meeting took place a couple of weeks ago. It was well attended, with around 50 residents plus parish councillors. The paperwork from the meeting is now on the village website, for anyone who may be interested, and here is a direct link to the Chairman’s presentation. For those residents who were not able to come to the meeting I hope you will be able to spare a few minutes to catch up with what has been going on in our community. In particular, may I draw your attention to our need for residents to consider putting themselves forward as potential parish councillors. Whether you are younger or older, female or male, a new arrival or a long-term resident we would be delighted to hear from you. Membership of the PC is not very demanding - just one evening a month plus maybe a few hours when you can fit them in - and no special skills are needed, indeed a variety of backgrounds is just what we are looking for. Your involvement would be an interesting and rewarding way to make a positive contribution to our community. We are currently two councillors short so the likelihood is that you could be appointed without the need for an election. There’s no need to make a commitment at this stage but please just consider the possibility. Reply to this email; contact Andrew Orme, PC Chairman, on 723606 or aclorme@btinternet.com for a chat; speak to any other councillor (details on the website); or just come along to a meeting and see for yourself, 2nd Mondays at 7.00 pm in the Village Hall. We hope to hear from you. |
Freshford and Limpley Stoke Fete
Freshford and Limpley Stoke Fete Saturday 10th June 2017 Programme 1pm – Fete opened 1pm onwards – Barbecue lunch on sale 1.30-2.30pm – Music from the Terry Hill Band 2.30pm to 3.15pm – Birds of Prey Flying Display by Mere Down Falconry 3.15pm to 4.15pm – Music from the Terry Hill Band 4.30pm - Tug of War competition 4.45pm – Raffle draw Bouncy castle, giant inflatable slide, gladiator joust, animals, games, stalls and refreshments available all afternoon. Advance Raffle tickets on sale from the Galleries from mid-May - £1 each The Fete is generously sponsored by: The Bath Stone Group, Rotork, Freshford Mill, Moon Design and Build, Hamptons International, Brad Abrahams Optometry and Homewood Park. Raising funds for Freshford Memorial Hall (registered charity 304545) |
Your once-a-year catch-up with Freshford Parish Council - do come
Have you ever wondered what your Parish Council does? Have you ever noticed that line on your Council Tax Bill - ‘Parish of Freshford’ - and wondered where that money goes? If so, here’s your opportunity to find out more. Just come along to Freshford Parish Council’s Annual Parish Meeting on Thursday 27th April, at 7.30 in the Village Hall. You will be offered a glass of the Galleries’ finest and will be warmly welcomed. We usually have 40 or so residents attending, so don’t feel nervous that there are just a select few and that you might not be able to escape without having volunteered for something. It’s not that sort of a gathering! We hope, of course, that regular attenders will be there in support as usual. There will be a brisk run-through of our finances for the year just ended – where the money came from and where it went – followed by the Chairman’s report. This will include brief updates on:
As a bonus this year we will be showing a BBC film of the ceremony on The Tyning from 31st March 1974 – the eve of Freshford’s joining the new county of Avon. It is only 8 minutes long but many with long-term associations with the village may recognise friends and family – or even themselves as youngsters. Others can’t help but be intrigued to see how Freshford has changed – or not – over the last 43 years. So do come along to the Village Hall, 7.30 for 8.00 on Thursday 27th April. It benefits us all when residents take an active interest in our community and we hope to see you there. |
A36/A46 link road
Recently Ben Howlett, MP for Bath, presented to the House of Commons a petition in support of an A36/A46 link road to ease the flow of traffic from the south coast to the M4. Mr Howlett said that the petition was signed by 2846 “concerned residents”. These signatories - an unimpressive number given the population of Bath - are of course residents of Bath, not of the area that would be blighted by any new link road. Freshford Parish Council, along with neighbouring councils in the Valley Parishes Alliance, is firmly opposed to plans for an A36/A46 link. The idea has been considered and rejected at intervals over recent years as it would not solve Bath’s traffic issues but would create significant additional problems. The Valley Parishes Alliance has set up The Avon Valley Action Group whose website gives full background on why a link road has been rejected in the past and why it should be again. |
Freshford on film, 1974
1st April 1974 was a momentous day for Freshford. Not because of an April Fool’s Day joke, though some might have thought it that at the time, but because it marked the day when Freshford, after centuries spent in a quiet corner of Somerset, woke up to find itself in the Wansdyke District of the new County of Avon.
Freshford was not pleased.
A memorial ceremony was held on The Tyning the day before and a horse chestnut tree was planted “as a final act to plant it in the soil of Somerset by the sorrowing people of Freshford”. A stone engraved “SOMt 31 March 1974 AVON” was set beside the tree – both are there to this day (the tree used for climbing by children). There was a big turnout by residents to witness a procession, singing by the choir, speeches and prayers.
The Parish Council has recently come across a BBC 16mm film from that day. The film shows various locations around the village – much the same as now except for a noticeable lack of cars; it shows children coming out of the school and crossing High Street to their waiting mums; and it shows some of the tree-planting ceremony and the attendant villagers. Were you there? Or your family? or friends?
We have had the film transcribed to DVD and will be showing it at the Annual Parish Meeting on Thursday 27th April, at 8.00 pm in Freshford Village Hall. It is only 8 minutes long but will make fascinating viewing for anyone with long connections with Freshford – and for anyone else who has an interest in our community. (Details of the Annual Parish Meeting will follow.) And how did the story end? Well, after the demise of the unloved Avon, Freshford was on the move again and on 1st April 1996 (another April Fool’s Day prank?) found ourselves in B&NES. |
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