| The Existing Village Hall and the New Sports Pavilion | ||
1. |
Q |
Will the new community and sports pavilion compete with our existing village hall? |
A |
No, the facility will not be a rival to the village hall for bookings. It will only be used by the sports clubs and groups unable to use the existing facilities. | |
2. |
Q |
Will the pavilion be licensed to sell alcohol? |
A |
No it will not be licensed. | |
3. |
Q |
I've heard a rumour that the existing village hall will be sold off. |
A |
This is impossible as the village hall is owned and run by a separate charity and nothing to do with the parish council or the Village Green Company. The village hall is a great facility for the village and long may it remain so. | |
| Village Green Parking and Entrance | ||
1 |
Q |
What parking will there be for the village green? |
A |
The will be parking for events only (sports games etc.) The car park will be reinforced grass only and when not in use will just look like a continuation of the landscape, no gravel or Tarmac surfaces will be used. | |
| 2 | Q | Where will the entrance for car parking be? |
| A | The location of the vehicle entrance will be determined by Essex County Council Highways Department and will depend on road safety, sustainability and practicality. Discussions are ongoing with ECC. | |
| Maintenance | ||
| 1. | Q | Who will maintain the village green and how will it be paid for? |
| The sports clubs will maintain the playing areas as is currently the case for the existing sports ground. The Village Green charity will maintain the surrounding areas with support from the parish council and if possible other grant sources too. | ||
| 2 | Q | Who will maintain the pavilion? |
| A | The pavilion will be used by the sports clubs and other village organisations. The sports clubs will use member volunteers to provide regular routine maintenance. | |
| Trees | ||
| 1 | Q | How many existing trees will be felled for the scheme? |
| A | The area is subject to a blanket Tree Preservation Order which will require us to obtain permission from Uttlesford District Council to remove any trees. It is only currently planned to remove one tree in the centre of the sports pitches. We intend to plant about 20 new trees of indigenous species around the perimeter. | |
| Wheelchairs and Buggies | ||
| 1 | Q | Will any of the proposed walks be wheelchair accessible? |
| A | Yes one of the pedestrian entrance points along the High Street will be buggy and wheelchair friendly and the paths through the nature areas will be made of a fine crushed stone chippings material which when rolled during construction is very flat, drains well and is perfect for wheelchairs and buggies. | |
| Facilities | ||
| 1 | Q | What facilities will there be for older people? |
| A | The village green and surround to the cricket pitch will have suitably placed benches and seating area, possibly with the occasional natural table made of solid Oak if the community so demands. The paths through the nature area and wooded area will have seating and vantage points. | |
| 2 | Q | Will there be a Trim Trail or circuit? |
| A | It has been suggested that along the various footpaths we include natural features to encourage exercise, such as steps cut into a tree truck laid on its side. This is known as a Trim Trail and points with varying degrees of difficulty could be provided for all ages if the community thinks it a good idea. | |
| 3 | Q | Will there be a tea hut or refreshment facility? |
| A | It is envisaged that the community pavilion would have a facility to dispense light refreshments at certain opening times dependent upon events and of course the weather. Volunteers are invited to step forward! | |
| 4 | Q | Womens' Sports |
| A | The sports pitches will cater for womens' sports such as hockey and rounders, plus any other games requiring a level grass surface. Of course womens' sports also include soccer and cricket and teams are invited to join and support the project. | |
| 5 | Q | Will there be any hard courts? |
| A | It is not planning to have any hard surfaces as there simply isn't enough room. Also such surfaces are expensive and would require floodlighting which is definitely not what is planned. | |
| 6 | Q | Will there be a bowling green? |
| A | Sorry but there is neither the space nor the money to provide a bowling green. | |
| The Existing Sports Ground | ||
| 1 | Q | What's wrong with the existing sports ground, why do we need another one? |
| A | The village green cricket and football pitches are to replace the existing pitches. the current sports ground is nearly half a mile from the village centre, with no security, no parking allowed in the ground, nowhere to park except half way on the verge of the B183 where accidents have happened before, there is no footpath/pavement to the ground, there's no pavilion and its position is not such that parents would feel comfortable allowing their young people to walk to it alone in the road or play their unattended. Bringing the facilities back into the village would really encourage safe participation by all. | |
| Help | ||
| 1 | Q | How can we help and support the village green |
| A | There are many ways you can help. Register your interest in supporting or joining the village green charitable company, offer your service or expertise in the project itself or simply spread the word. Give us your support if you can. | |
| 2 | Q | I have expertise I would like to offer, how do I do this? |
| A | You can email your support and offer of expertise to support@hbo-village-green.co.uk | |