For several years, CVCA has been asking BHCC to repair a long-disused store-room behind Southwater Close for use by CVCA as a community workshop. Finally, the Council has agreed and in March 2023 obtained planning permission for three-quarters of the building to be made available to CVCA, retaining the other quarter for its own purposes.

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The intention is to equip half of the building as a ‘hard’ workshop suitable for woodworking, metalwork etc; and a quarter as a ‘soft’ workshop suitable for creative activities, dress-making etc.

We are now pushing the Council to undertake the repairs sooner rather than later as we know there is untapped demand for such a facility locally.

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We are awaiting the final cost of the repairs and will probably need to raise around £50,000 to add to the £80,000 set aside by the Council. We currently have £15,000 and are confident of a further £10,000 – but we will probably still need to raise a further £25,000 or so once the Council has committed to a start date. We are confident that we will be able to raise any shortfall.