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Great Torrington
Town Hall Project
Some further progress has been made
since the last report but there are still a number of problems to resolve.
As always the main one is funding. We currently have 9 applications under
consideration including Leader 4 and a fresh approach to Devon County
Council. Their advice to go to the Community Council of Devon for help
along with many village hall schemes was ill-advised as they are only
able to consider projects under £500,000. Ours is considerably more
than that. Negotiations are also underway to sell 2 more paintings but
progress on this is painfully slow. On the bright side we are extremely
grateful to the Viscount Amory Trust for a grant of £1000.
Tenders for the work have now been received giving us a much clearer idea
of what is required. If funding were to materialise in these difficult
times we are ready to go and could even open the new facility for next
Easter!
We now have comprehensive details of the way in which local schools will
use the Town Hall and we are grateful to the Heads, Mary Pearson and Jim
Cobbett, for the work they have put into this. We have also held several
positive meetings with the Plough Management to explore ways in which
they can use the building and to help us run it.
A draft business plan has been produced by an independent adviser which
encouragingly shows that the project will be financially viable as a sustainable
community asset when completed.
I am pleased to say our friend the 'Viper' remains active and to date
we have received 49 £1 coins from him/her. The last one was posted
in Romania on 10.4.09 and carried the message: - "Came down to Romania
(quite close to Transylvania) …….. So, here's a pound from 'the
Viper', and not my good friend……. Dracula." Perhaps this
important clue will lead us to the Viper's identity for we now appear
to be looking for a friend of Dracula who happens to enjoy the odd drink.
Mondeoman, mentioned last time, apparently unable to compete, has fallen
silent!
Harry Cramp Chairman.
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