Friends of Burtle
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Recent updates from the Friends of Burtle
Last meeting held on the 10th August
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Friends of Burtle (Fob)
The Friends of Burtle committee or ‘Fob’ for short was formed in 2013 with a goal of securing a pub in Burtle. This page will detail the current position of the committee, a history of the committee’s efforts and the results of the recent village questionnaire. As plans progress this page will be kept updated with the latest news.
A short summary of the Burtle pub options to date
The Tom Mogg
- May open as a pub by present owner
- Not likely to have much community involvement
The Burtle Inn
- Could open as a pub with development
- Would include a level of development (3 additional houses).
- Currently would only happen if the community supported it.
- The community would work in conjunction with the current owner
The Old School
- Possibly available to purchase dependant on price
- Grants may be available to help
- Would have community ownership
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FoBs next actions
- Identify the financial feasibility of the Old School
- Obtain a selling price for the Old School
- Understand development costs of the buildings
- Identify what grants are available and build a funding plan
- Create a formal business plan to purchase the Old School
- Keep the option of the Burtle Inn on the back burner
- If requested keep the option of the Tom Mogg on the back burner.
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The benefits of the Old School as the next Burtle Pub
The Old School is located within the hub of the village supporting both the Church and the Village Hall The village will have some control over this important asset. It would ensure that this historic feature within our village is kept for ever within our domain There is sufficient space to create:
- A pub serving food
- A skittle alley
- A café area
- Parking
- Craft Area
- Possible recreation area
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The history of FoB and the Burtle Pub Quest
2013 / 2014 – The Burtle Inn
- The Burtle Inn the final pub open in the village closed
- The Burtle Inn was advertised for sale
- A Community Asset Order was granted on the Burtle Inn.
- After a Parish Meeting a Committee calling itself “Friends Of Burtle Inn” was formed to try and purchase the pub.
- Feasibility studies and grant information researched.
- Blind formal offers were submitted for the Burtle Inn and rejected
- Request made for survey to enable a further offer, this was rejected.
- The Owner withdrew the pub from the open market.
February 2015 – The Tom Mogg
- The owner of the Tom Mogg requested a Parish Meeting,
- He offered to give the Lounge Bar and side Restaurant to the village rent free for 5 yrs.
- A committee was reformed and became “Friends of Burtle” (FOB).
- The proposal was considered for practical feasibility and Heads of Terms produced by FOB for negotiation
May 2015 – The Tom Mogg
- Friends of Burtle met with Mark Lewis the owner of Tom Mogg to discuss and negotiate the Heads of Terms
- The Owner was not prepared to negotiate, and withdrew the offer to the village
- He suggested that he would look at the opportunity of running the pub himself
- He suggested that he would put in a planning application as he previously had to convert the bulk of the building to accommodation.
May 2015 – The Burtle Inn
- The Parish Council was approached to hear a proposal from an agent of the Burtle Inn
- The Agent discussed plans to demolish the existing Burtle Inn and replace with 3 houses
- He offered to build a small pub in the car park to the side of the existing pub.
- The meeting were not generally in favour
- He has requested that a survey is sent around the village to gain some support
- The survey is available on the notice board
June 2015 – The School
- Shapwick Prep school announced that it was closing.
- Friends of Burtle enquired to see if the Old Burtle School Room, the Porta- Cabins, Tarmac area and the Sports field could be purchased by the community.
- The school have suggested that they are interested in selling and recognise some positive benefits of a community project and possible relationship.
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Organisation Menu
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Friends of Burtle Committee
- Chairman – Russ Myers
- Vice Chair – Richard Dallimore
- Secretary – Lorraine Simmonds
- Treasurer – Ian Simmonds
- Committee Members – Jenny Jones, Julian Porter, James Hedges, Shelly Pople.
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Results of the Village Questionnaire
- A very good response was received with around a 50% response level
- The Old School was the most popular venue followed by the Burtle Inn
- The majority who responded suggested that they would use it more than once a week
- The majority of people would like food as well as a bar
- Skittles was seen as an important facility
- A cafe was seen as important
- A community shop was seen as important
- A craft workshop was viewed as a good idea
- There was some support for a share/buy type of purchase scheme
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