News

Despite the January weather, we hope you’ve had a good start to 2018. The ARC team is very excited that this looks like the year that real progress will be made, and a long-term lease will be agreed for Palmer’s Field. Solicitors for Aldbourne Parish Council have been working hard on the draft lease, which we hope will be ready very soon. It has taken quite a while to get to this stage, but it’s important to get it right and it will definitely be worth it. 

Exciting Plans

We’ve had more meetings with various sports and recreational groups this month, to get more of an understanding of what they need and how any proposed development on Palmers Field could benefit them. This consultation is essential and will continue throughout the planning process. On the subject of planning, we’ve been delighted to have a lot of help from RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects). They have trawled the country for five architects who have real previous practical experience with these types of projects. They have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to thiscombination of facilities, and we are considering setting up a competition for their concepts. More news on this next month.

Sport in Aldbourne

In last month’s newsletter we shared pictures from the touch rugby session over Christmas, and we are really delighted to see that the Saturday morning ‘Fitness with Friends’initiative is also blossoming. Mike Campbell and Rupert Bound, who tirelessly organise these weekly events, don’t seem at all phased by so many people of all ages and abilities assembling on Saturday mornings. It just shows how popular sport and fitness is in Aldbourne. Give it a try. Even a couple of ARC trustees join in and if we can do it you probably can!

What’s Next

While we wait for the all-important lease to be signed, we are continuing with our planning and consultations. In addition to our research in to core funding we are also looking at fundraising activities here in the village. There have already been some great ideas so we’ll keep you posted. 

We are also looking at putting a lot more information on our website, so you can keep up to date with all our news and find out a bit more about the team behind ARC. 

Again, a big thank you to all our supporters for your continued commitment; we really are very grateful. 

Malcolm Pryce, 

Chairman, Aldbourne Recreation Centre 

Firstly, we hope you’re enjoying the festive season, and isn’t it lovely to see so many great events taking place around our village at this time of year.  At ARC, we’ve had a busy month so have lots of news to share with you: –

• Lease Update
• New Funding
• What’s Next

Lease Update

We’re making good progress in obtaining a lease for Palmers Field from Aldbourne Parish Council. Unfortunately, this does take time because of the complexities of the project and our charitable status. There are many factors that need to be considered by both ARC and the Parish Council to ensure the final lease works well for everyone concerned. The matter was discussed at the Parish Council meeting earlier this month, and we are hoping that there will be some more news to share with everyone over the next couple of months. 

New Funding

We were delighted to receive confirmation that ARC has been awarded a grant of £2000 by:

What Next?

This is very exciting indeed and it means we can now progress to the formal design stage. 

Firstly though, there’ll be a formal lease signing ceremony and the unveiling of the new ARC Noticeboard sometime over the next couple of weeks. Everyone is very welcome to come along and witness this momentous occasion, so we’ll let you know exactly where and when in another email very soon. 

The really hard work starts now, and we have already instructed the architect to draw up some initial designs for the new building that will go on Palmers Field, along with the other facilities we plan for the area. 

We will keep you fully informed with our plans every step of the way and we are aware that there are some people who are keen to help in some way and we welcome any suggestions or offers. We are certainly looking to expand our core team members so please do get in touch. 

We’ll be back in touch soon with details of the lease signing ceremony and what we’ll be doing over the next few months.

In the meantime many thanks again to all our supporters for all their continued commitment.

Please see below details sent out to Parish councillors

20170428-ARC Plans

20170428-ARC Plans Briefing Note

The attachment and explanatory notes in the covering email has been sent to the G# following our team of Trustees scrutiny on Sunday evening.

20170319 Heads of Agreement – Final Draft_V4

2017-02-08-APC_Public_Forum_Record

Tickets now All Sold

Aldbourne Curry Club runs in partnership with The Burj, a superb Indian restaurant in Foxhill, Wanborough near Swindon. Created to raise funds for The Big New Hut, Aldbourne’s proposed new Scout and Guide hut (part of ARC – Aldbourne Recreation Centre – Registered charity number 1161160), Curry Club nights feature a delicious set menu that will change each month and consists of a starter, a main course, a rice dish and side dish for £15 per person of which £5 goes directly to The Big New Hut.

All reservations must be made via Eventbrite with payment IN CASH on the night to the organiser.
All drinks and additional items must be ordered on the night by the individual and the bill settled directly with The Burj.

This event is limited to 60 places.
If you wish to show that you have reserved a place/places, please post a comment on the Aldbourne Curry Club Facebook page Event for the and share it with your friends

Neil Stevens

Child tickets £1 Each

Adult tickets £5 Each

Palmers Field was donated to the Parish Council some 12 years ago and is located at the Southern edge of the village. It currently hosts a Zip wire, BMX track, cricket nets and rugby field.

A charity, ARC (Aldbourne Recreation & Sports Centre, Charity No. 1161160) has been formed specifically to consider how best to expand the facilities at Palmer’s Field for the benefit of people of all ages and abilities within the village, and to obtain the necessary funds and grants to allow this to take place. The Trustees are all drawn from within the village, and bring a wide range of perspectives and skills to the task. We are delighted to report that the Parish Council has now received planning permission to provide track access construction to Palmers Field, as a first stage in this process.
It is further proposed to create a sports pavilion to support sports in general and in particular the Aldbourne Football Club. Future facilities that have been discussed for some time include a dedicated rehearsal room for the Aldbourne Band and The Big New Hut for our burgeoning number of Scouts and Guides. Other general use facilities that have been discussed include a Fitness Trail, Parkour Course and others.

The ARC Trustees would like to thank all those who have attended open meetings and submitted their considerations during the access track planning application. We must also thank the Parish Council for their support in submitting the track planning application from plans drawn up by ARC. Now, however, the real work begins: members of specific ARC workgroups and ‘Friends of ARC’ are coming forward as we speak, in the full knowledge that there is a considerable amount to be done.
ARC’s first AGM will be held on Saturday 2nd July 2016 at the Memorial Hall at 10am. All are welcome; details of various proposals will be available for comment after the formal business. The ARC Trustees are committed to listening to as many people as possible, in order to drive these developments in the best interests of the village as a whole; please do come along and provide us with your input (and offers of help!) on something that has the potential to be of major benefit to us all.
ARC Trustees

Access road and Sports hut planning application has been submitted to Wiltshire planning.

Thi sis planning application 16/01/024 and can be found online here:

http://planning.wiltshire.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning%20Applications%20On-Line&TYPE=PL/PlanningPK.xml&PARAM0=860172&XSLT=/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/SiteFiles/Skins/Wiltshire/xslt/PL/PLDetails.xslt&FT=Planning%20Application%20Details&PUBLIC=Y&XMLSIDE=&DAURI=PLANNING