The aim of Vicarage Green project is to create a safe drop-off area for Whitegate School on land donated by a local resident.
The design is complete and planning permission has been granted but to complete the project we need to find a solution for access to the donated land. The project cost of £150K is to be funded by a £100K loan, repayable over 10 years from the parish precept, and local fundraising.
The Anglican Diocese requires £65K from the parish for us to purchase the triangle of Vicarage land needed for access. A proposed alternative lease arrangement from the Diocese, limited by a 20 year break clause, has been rejected by the community as, if invoked, access to Vicarage Green and the drop-off area would be lost. An alternative access to Vicarage Green is possible but requires some additional land on the opposite side of Pettypool Brook which is currently not available.
The Parish Council is considering what to do with the accumulated funds whilst the project is currently mothballed. To date funds of £36K (excluding £2K of pledges) have been raised from the Parish Council, Ward Councillors, local fund raising and donations from parents and local residents with a balance of £18K remaining after project costs. The Parish Council proposes continuing to build the funds until a solution can be found whilst seeking other ways to improve the safety of children and parents. This could be done by interactive speed signs, a reduced speed limit, speed monitoring and possibly a traffic warden.
Donors are currently being sought to fund the £65K triangle of land purchase to enable the project to proceed. The Parish Council would be pleased to hear from any parishioner who would be able to contribute to this purchase.
