August 2021

19 Buckden Roundabout August 2021 Quick Makes for Kids Village News Update Bookings are continuing to increase which is good news and by September we hope to have most of our regular hirers back at the Hall. Also, a big thank you to the new hirers who have booked future parties. CCTV We have CCTV cameras which cover the playing field and entire Hall building, including doorways. Fencing around play area Please can parents ensure that your child/ren do not kick balls against the fence around the play area on the field. This is not only damaging the fencing and knocking out vital screws, but also makes a loud noise which is causing local residents to complain. Treatment Room The Hall has a treatment room just off the main foyer which has been used for years by beauty businesses. This room is now available to lease. It ’ s been beautifully decorated and would be perfect for someone looking to find a base for their beauty/nail business. Please email me for more infor- mation. Valley improvement update Preliminary work has started on the Valley improvement. Much of July was devoted to filing all the paperwork and regulatory surveys on environmental planning required be- fore any work can begin. In late June, we conducted a wa- ter test on whether the Valley is host to the great crested newt. We are awaiting results of that test, which hopefully will be negative. If positive, then we will need to build new habitats for the newt as it is a protected species. In August, once the breeding season is past, we plan on starting on clearing the brambles and vegetation. There will be a meeting at the Village Hall (date to be confirmed) to show everyone in Buckden the various design plans and features we would like to build in to improve usage of the Valley. We would also like to get the local schools involved and will contacting schools to see if we can fit into the na- ture curriculum. In September, the dredging work will hopefully begin. We estimate that over 3,000 tonnes of sludge and silt will need to be removed. Some of the sludge will be used to rebuild the banks but much of it will need to be trucked away. This is by far the most expensive and complex part of the reno- vation plan. We will start to post regular updates and photos to the Roundabout and Facebook to keep everyone up to date, as well as starting a stakeholder strategy to gather views. We have already asked the Parish Council to join. New Storage Buildings There is a requirement to replace the containers currently being used to store sports and field maintenance equip- ment. We have gained planning permission for a facility located next to the Pavilion and have a preferred supplier for the building. We are in the process of raising the re- quired funds and we aim to have this built and the old con- tainers removed by the spring / summer of 2022. Pavilion Improvements The sports pavilion is in great need of refurbishment. The necessary changes have been specified and costed and the Trust is now in the process of raising the required funds. Our aim is to have a fully refurbished Pavilion by end of Au- tumn 2022. Jo Harvey, Hall Manager Email: admin@buckdenvillagehall.co.uk Tel: 01480 811101 Burberry Road, Buckden, Cambridgeshire, PE19 5UY Tel: 01480 811101 www. buckdenvillagehall.co.uk email: admin@buckdenvillagehall.co.uk Loo roll owl Fold in the top of a loo roll to make ear shapes and decorate. What else can you make? How about batman? Paper plate animal face Decorate a plate to make any animal you like. This one ’ s a bear. Can you make a lion?