Barkway Recreation and Pavilion Project

20th February 2012 Tenders were received for the revised pavilion project just before Christmas. The tender process raised a number of detailed questions about the most appropriate specification for the project. A revised pavilion project management committee, under the Chairmanship of Councillor Simon Taylor,  has been established to deliver the project. The committee has recently met to agree the next step for the project and agreement has been made on some clarifications to the detailed specification. The committee will therefore produce a more detailed specification to allow for firm prices to be established. In the meantime additional fundraising is being organised by Councillor Andrew Murphy in order to allow us to meet the costs of the project in full before construction commences. 30th November 2011 The project management group has been enhanced by David Connolly and Martin McGuire, who are experts in this particular field. Fresh planning consent has been obtained for a new build pavilion on the site of the current changing rooms. A specification has been agreed and tender documents are to be issued. Significant funding for the project has been secured, but we still need to raise in excess of £30k – potential donors are directed to the "buy a brick" scheme, which can be accessed via the home page. The project is being managed by a sub committee under the overall responsibility of Barkway Parish Council, with Councillor Simon Taylor being the responsible official. 20th August 2011 Planning consent had previously been granted for a redeveloped pavilion. However, following the formation of a steering group and consultation with some ‘industry experts’, we have decided to change the scope of the project to allow for a complete new building with regulation sized changing and shower areas for two football teams. This has enabled the project to place greater emphasis on the Youth and Community facility and to tie it in with enhanced use of the recreation ground through a larger kitchen, larger community space, bi-fold doors and a veranda. This revised scope should allow the project to be completed on a significantly reduced budget. A revised planning application has now been submitted to North Herts District Council and a revised budget is being calculated. Simon Taylor has been co-opted to the Parish Council and has been allocated responsibility for managing this project to completion. At the moment over £70,000 is in place towards this project but further funding sources will be researched once revised building quotations have been obtained. Residents will be updated further in the usual ways. 19th May 2011 The Casino Night held at the Village Hall on Saturday 14th May was a great success and raised much needed funds for the Recreation and Pavilion Project. Approximately 70 people attended the event and the evening produced a handsome profit of £1261.25. Together with donations received at Barkway Market, the project committee is in a position to move on to the next stage of the project. 13th May 2011 An "expression of interest" form has been lodged with Biffa to find out if we are eligible to apply for a £50,000 grant. 7th May 2011 Barkway Parish Council had a stall at the Barkway Market and organised a "buy a brick" campaign. This was successful and the day brought forth pledges and donations of nearly £400.00. A list of donors will be published here and on the notice boards very shortly. 21st April 2011 The Recreation and Pavilion Project Group will be meeting to discuss the next steps during the period 3rd to 6th May. Full details will be published here very shortly. In the meantime click here to read the report in the Royston Crow 11th April 2011 Our application for an NHDC PACIF grant of £50,000 has been successful. Subject to certain conditions, 50% of the grant can be made available immediately. The management committee will be meeting shortly with the architect to plan the way forward. The allocation of this money is a giant step forward in the process of establishing a new sports pavilion and youth facility and is a project that will benefit the village of Barkway immensely. Keep up to date with the progress via this website. 8th April 2011 We expect to hear the result of our NHDC PACIF grant application on Monday, 11th April A Casino Night has been organised for Saturday 14th May in Barkway Village Hall. Click here for details. And an Evening of Classical Music with a difference is planned for Saturday 17th September. Details will be published later. It is hoped that these events will be well attended in order to raise much needed funds for the project. 7th February 2011 Fund raising event organised for 14th May. Further events planned 1st February 2011 Management Committee meeting with Jay Raynham, Architect and Anne Taylor of North Herts CVS to discuss way forward - design, uses and grants,etc. 21st January 2011 £21,000 section 106 monies allocated to this project 12th November 2010 Planning permission granted 30th September 2010 A grant application for £50,000 has been made to NHDC. A decision expected early 2011 17th September 2010 The Parish Council is pleased to report that in the next few days we shall be filing a planning application for a new Sports Pavilion/Youth Club to replace the current pavilion on the Recreation Area. This follows on from the hard work of Councillors Tony Terry and Vince Styles  in establishing a suitable design, which will offer male and female, home and away changing rooms, and a communal activity space, which can be used as a youth club or an event room for activities on the "Rec".However, as you can imagine, we have a severe challenge ahead if we are to make this happen in Barkway and will need to raise in the region of £200,000 for the building cost. Some grants are available, but of course harder to come by, with more bees around the honey pot. However, the Parish Council is confident that based on the need for such a building as identified by the Parish Plan, and the expressed interest we have in the use of the "Rec" football pitches, so much so that just now we must turn teams away, that if the community supports and backs this project then, we can hopefully, between grants, allowances and fundraising, raise this amount in 2-3 years time. Having the plans and planning permission is a necessary step to have in place, and enables us to actually apply for grants. Additionally, to manage this project and to facilitate grant application, the Parish Council will form a sub-committee, with its own constitution to run and manage this project. This is for Barkway a major project and one which will provide a benefit to the wider community, not just Barkway, and will go a long way to enhance the standing of Barkway as an active and vibrant village in the area. We do not think the Parish Council has ever embarked upon a more ambitious project in its history, so we hope the community will support it with enthusiasm and commitment and get involved in any little way you can. Every little does help. We would like to invite any member of the public who would like to be involved in this project and join the committee and project team, to please contact us via the usual methods. Click here to return to home page