News
Centenary Projects at the Rec
As part of the Centenary Celebrations, the Trust carried out three improvements that were long overdue:
Parking Facilities to Protect Trees with TPO's.
The impact of Phase 1 above and the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a 500% increase in cars visiting the Recreation Ground. Our parking spaces for six cars has become insufficient for the numbers of visitors we now have. This resulted in visitors parking beneath trees with Tree Preservation Orders (of which we have in excess of 100) creating detrimental compaction of the root system. We needed to construct a new parking area with a soft surface. This has been completed.
Refurbish the Entrance Gates.
The Entrance Gates to the Trust Grounds also give access to the King George V Playing Field. They are very fine heritage ornate wrought iron gates that were erected in 1936 and officially opened by The Duke of Beaufort that year. These historic gates and associated railings have sadly corroded badly and are in need of a full restoration. The Trust has had these gates refurbished and reinstated.
Play Area Safety Fencing.
The Children's Play Area runs alongside the access road to the car park and for children's safety needed to have a proper safety fence, as approved by RoSPA rather than the previous agricultural post and rail fence that risked head and finger entrapment. The Trust has provided a RoSPA approved bow-top steel fence alongside the road to ensure the safety of the children using the facility.
These three PHASE 2 projects have been carried out in the Trusts Centenary year and has cost £57,000. Funding of £45,000 has come from Enovert (Landfill tax monies) and the balance from Gloucestershire County Council, Coleford Town Council, Coleford Area Partnership and Gloucestershire Playing Fields Association.
Extending the Pavilion
The Trust, as PHASE 3 of it's improvements, intends to build an extension to the existing café at the Recreation Ground to replace the facilities demolished in 2012. The extension has been designed and passed by the Planning Authority.
In 1967, the Trust built the Leonard Craze Pavilion to provide a facility for the newly created Buchanan Sports & Social Club members and all users of the Trust's facilities. It was used by the tennis club, the bowls club and by the social club members. In the 1970's to 1990's the facility was extended to keep up with an ever increasing membership – which was approaching 300 in number.
In 2013, the former trustees decided to demolish the extensions and convert the Leonard Craze Pavilion into a Café. This turned out to be a financial disaster. The Trust had £140,000 in the bank in 2010 but by 2015 is was insolvent and owing £8,000. The former trustees resigned.
The small Café is not fit for purpose in that it is too small to accommodate the current users of the Trusts facilities.
The new Trustees wish to reinstate the Pavilion facilities by building an extension which will increase the capacity of the community room, improve the catering facility, provide new ladies and gents changing rooms and better toilet facilities. It is also intends to make the facility green by including eco-friendly insulation, heating, lighting and electric car charging points.
The Trust is seeking funding for this project and part of the process is that a public consultation is undertaken. A questionnaire has been produced and the Trust is encouraging the people in the Recreation Ground catchment area to provide their views.
A copy of the Questionnaire is available here to download. Please give the completed documents to any member or send it by email to the Secretary at secretary@angusbuchananvcrecreationground.co.uk
