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Get-a-map service.
Image reproduced with kind permission of
Ordnance Survey
and
Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.
Some 20 years
ago round about the time of the Queens Jubilee, villagers raised in the region
of £13,000 for a new football field. Since that time various schemes have
been considered and at long last, and not without delays and unforeseen events
the fields at the Daffodil Lane site became available for such a purpose.
In order to
attract funding, and to progress the project, the plan has been split into two -
one for the new Village Hall, and the other for the sports/recreation field.
In a nutshell,
it is fervently hoped that work can start on the field part of the project by
the Autumn of this year, whilst funding is sought in the region of £300,000 for
the new Village Hall.
You may recall
that last year (2003) a needs survey was carried out in the village. In
all 300 survey forms were distributed, and some 185 were completed,
and based on the results, the layout of the hall has been shaped and modified.
NEWS AND UPDATES
Report from Daffodil Lane committee May 8th
2007.
We can report that the field is being well used. On
Sunday April 29th a Mini Football Tournament took place with
16 Teams taking Part. Bucknell had 2 Teams the Under 11's and
Girls Team.
The Bucknell Charity Cup Final between Ludlow Town Colts and Newcastle
Football Club was held on 15th April. This was the first
senior Football Match to be played on the Field and was very well
attended. The teams were very complementary about the Field.
We understand that Bucknell Football Club intend to play in the North
Herefordshire League next season.
Shropshire Football Association have been in contact with Bucknell
Football Club regarding some funding that they have available for
changing facilities and some of the Committee are going to attend a
joint meeting with the interested parties soon.
It has always been understood that Changing Rooms etc can be built
alongside a new hall when funds become available. (Plans have
already been prepared.)
Meanwhile Shropshire Hills AONB did not give us a
Grant towards Stage One of our Community Building Project, so we have
had to look elsewhere for funding. South Shropshire District
Council are assisting us and have suggested we try for EU Money
Community Building Fund. The Application Forms have been filled in and a
reply is imminent.
We had hoped to hear from the Big Lottery Community
Build Fund by the beginning of May but received a communication stating
that they are 6 weeks behind and we will not hear if we are successful
until the end of June.
On June 2nd a Hog Roast and various other
entertainments have been arranged to take place on the Field, and the
organisers have posters around the village.
ROSPA have been booked to inspect the Play area in June.
TIMELINE
June 2004
Meetings were arranged with three local Architects to discuss the plans
and specifications for the development of the New Memorial Hall and
their relevant charges for carrying out the work.
July 2004
Specifications were sent out for works on the Recreation Ground site so
that a Landscape Contractor could be appointed.
December 2004
Spring Bulbs were planted by Volunteers along the hedge adjacent to
Chapel Lawn Road and this Spring a very pleasing crop of daffodils and
Narcissi etc were seen along the new path.
March 2005
Work has commenced on site by Landscape Contractor - DW Shotton Ltd of
Ditton Priors, because of problems relating to legal matters, work was
unable to be completed. These matters are now resolved but difficulties
with a new widened Daffodil Lane have delayed progress.
The County Council agreed at the beginning of 2005 that they would widen
Daffodil Lane to enable better access to the playing field and new hall
site. Planning permission was sought by the County Council and
subsequently approved by the District Council for the removal of part
of the hedge.
No work could commence until the County Council were satisfied that
Birds were not still nesting, and recently the delay has occurred in
that a check needs to be made to see if dormice are active in the hedge.
Recommencement could be delayed until Autumn !, whilst investigations take
place.
Benches and Litter Bins for the Recreation Ground have been ordered and
will be installed as work proceeds.
Planning Permission was applied and approved for a change of use from
Hall to Residential Use which would be applied at such time that the new
hall was built and old one was made redundant. Any money raised would be
applied to the maintenance of the future hall and playing field.
Grants were sought and approved from Awards for All and Craven Arms
Together to enable plans, costing and consultation with planning etc
regarding a new village hall. These would lead to a submission of the
application for main funding to build.
Plans have now been drawn up for the Development by Garner Southall
Partnership of Knighton. These have been used to submit the application
to the Big Lottery and will also be required for any other funding the
we choose to apply to.
Application submitted to The Big Lottery for funding for the New
Memorial Hall.
June 2005
A New Trust Deed providing for both Hall & Playing Field was formulated by the Charity
Commission and came into force.
August 2005
The Dormice issue was resolved and it was agreed that a new hedge be
planted inside the fence around the new entrance and play area.
October 2005
Shropshire District Council have taken out the old hedge and widened the
end of Daffodil Lane leaving a roundabout due to a pole situated in the
existing hedge. This we feel will also reduce the speed of vehicles
using the lane.
Members of the committee were visited by an Assessor from The Big
Lottery Fund regarding our application submitted in March 2005.
Unfortunately in November we were informed that we had been unsuccessful
in our application but gave us pointers on what is required when we
reapply in 2006.
December 2005
The committee organised a planting day for the Trees that had been
sponsored at Bucknell Show and also purchased 75 Kilos of Daffodil Bulbs
that had been funded by The Countryside Agency. We had a good turnout
and the weather was good. Many thanks to all who helped.
The Millennium Oak tree was also planted on the Playing Field where it
was originally intended.
February 2006
Following a telephone call from The Countryside Agency to advise they
had under spend money that was to be spent by the end of March 2006. We
set in motion the provision of Play Equipment and surfacing for which we
had just received a quote only the week before. On contacting the
contractor Ray Parry Playground Services from Shrewsbury we continued to
put in an application for the grant. This left a shortfall for which we
applied to Awards for All, South Shropshire District Council and
Bedstone and Bucknell Parish Council. Thankfully all our applications
were successful and work was due to commence on Monday 27 March - 2 days
after our opening!
As you can see all of the Equipment has now been
installed and is in constant use. We have been asked by several people
about equipment for smaller children, if anyone has any ideas how we
could raise funds for this please contact us.
We have also allocated space for a Skate Ramp on the field and would
look to other funding bodies for this type of equipment.
