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2008

Massey's Folly Provisional Floor Plans

April Consultation Meeting Rep

September AGM report

2009

February

MASSEY'S FOLLY PRESERVATION TRUST NEWSLETTER February 2009

This newsletter contains the full update on the activities of MFPT as promised in the short summary printed in the January Edition Of the Parish Magazine.

Conservation Management Plan

First of all we would like to thank all those who participated in the consultation meetings, and by completing the questionnaires. Your input formed a valuable part of the final plan, and all your comments and ideas have been included in the document.

Since the Consultations early last year the extensive Conservation Management Plan and its other attendant reports, including an Access Plan, have been completed. This was funded by a Heritage Lottery Grant specifically for this purpose. Copies of this document have been circulated to the Parish Council, Farringdon Village Hall Committee and other interested parties.

Heritage Day

MFPT hosted an open day at Massey's Folly on 14th September, as part of the National Heritage Day celebrations. Over 400 people attended the event and were able to view exhibitions of the history of the Folly, Jane Austen's house, Women's Institute and several others. Thank you to all those who supported the event, including M&S and Sainsbury's for supplying the food.

Funding update

Both the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Architectural Heritage Fund are continuing to fund and support the project. During the first part of 2009 we will be submitting our application for the grant to cover the restoration of Massey's Folly, and should receive a decision in early summer. The Architectural Heritage Fund loan for the purchase of the Folly remains available, and negotiations are continuing.

For any funding to be made available for the restoration and repair of Massey's Folly the whole building must be under sole ownership of the applicant.
It was for this sole purpose that Massey's Folly Preservation Trust was established, with the goal to restore Massey's Folly and to provide a vibrant Community Centre for both the Village and surrounding area.

The Heritage Lottery funding available to MFPT as sole owners would not be a loan but a grant to restore and rescue part of the area's heritage. The building is already on the Hampshire "at risk" register and is deteriorating further with each year that passes. The restoration of the presently unusable areas will provide far better facilities for the village in the future and the increase in revenue will cover future maintenance costs and the repayment of the purchase loan.

It must be reiterated that the Village will not be responsible for raising the funds though of course personal donations will always be welcome.
Once the restoration is complete MFPT would create a "trading arm" to manage the building and associated activities. This would ensure the continued maintenance of the heritage site for the benefit of the surrounding community. The loan from the Architectural Heritage Fund, which had been used for the purchase of the building, and the ongoing maintenance costs would be covered by the revenue generated by the activities within the building. These activities could include such ideas as Computer and other Clubs for the young, Language classes, Bridge groups, Dance and Drama classes, Book clubs, or even 'Hot desks' for short lets to people without such facilities.

The Village Hall would have the option to buy back their restored portion of the building at the prevailing market value or have a licence in perpetuity for the portion they require or to lease the area they require. The licence option would absolve the Village Hall Management Committee from any repair and/or maintenance costs whereas lease would be on a full repairing basis. Both the lease and licence options would be agreed with appropriate legal advice and formal agreements.

MFPT, as a building preservation trust, would remain responsible for the maintenance of the building while retaining access to additional funding if necessary.

During the refurbishment, application could be made to the EHDC for permission to set up a Portakabin as a temporary Village Hall, during the time when the restoration work precludes the use of the Folly. Given their support of the project to date, it would seem that they would be supportive of the application.

Project Organiser

Geoff Cumbers, MFPT's Project Organiser, completed his year's contract on 14th October. He left in order to accept a full time position rather than renewing his part-time post with MFPT. We wish him well in his new post.

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