Latest from The Forge

The Forge team still awaits SODC clearance of the remaining pre-commencement conditions.

A recent survey has identified some roofing works which, to preserve the structure, need attention in advance of the main works starting.

Many thanks to all who responded to our recent requests for artefacts and potential bookings for the building. Our collection now includes milk churns, scythes and large horseshoes in addition to the maps, drawings, anvil and assorted period tools donated or loaned previously. Booking enquiries have been received for yoga, pilates, exercise classes and from an exhibition.

There will be room for more artefacts and we’d like to hear from other clubs who may be interested in using the Forge. If you can help, please get in touch via: binfieldheathforge@gmail.com

The Forge Team

Thinking of booking The Forge?

If so, we’d like to hear from you. We’ve received many suggestions for ways in which the building could be used. Now is the time to turn those ideas into plans. Please let us know via binfieldheathforge@gmail.com how you would like to use the space, for how many people, for how long and how often. It may mean looking ahead a bit, but the sooner we know, the better we can plan to be ready from the happy day when The Forge opens for the community. 

To see the plans, go to The Forge page and to find the full application online double-click https://data.southoxon.gov.uk/ccm/support/Main.jsp?MODULE=ApplicationDetails&REF=P24/S2597/FUL#exactline

Binfield Heath Parish Council will meet on Monday October 27 at 7pm in the Scout Hut

All local people are invited to meet the council and bring up any matters of interest or concern. If you have anything you would like to raise with the council you can do that in the public question time. You can contact the clerk on clerk@binfieldheath.org.uk

In order to allay fears regarding the future of the village shop, following this week’s front-page article in the Henley Standard, David and Alex have reassured us that plans for the village shop have not changed and sent the following:

“The Bottle and Glass and Hart Street Tavern had a change of limited company ownership at the start of the year and the original limited companies were voluntarily liquidated due to historical Covid debts, that with the constant and sustained increases in every cost base became unsustainable to continue to service. 
“However the sites themselves remain sound ex debt, particularly with the addition of the barn etc at the B&G, which should stand it in good stead for the future. 

“We also wanted to find a way to preserve all jobs, as well as allow our previous commitments such as the shop to go ahead, all of which might not have come across with the sensationalised headline, which isn’t accurate. No one has quit on anything! 

FUTURE OF VILLAGE SHOP IS IN SAFE HANDS, SAY ALEX AND DAVID

Parish council vacancy

Our PC still has a vacancy for someone to join us in place of Sue Summerland who retired after 30 years as a councillor. For details of how to apply please contact Mandy Sermon on clerk@binfieldheath.org.uk . A copy of the full advertisement from SODC can be found on the Parish Council page of this website.

Villagers gathered outside the shop to say farewell to Gavin and Sharon. They have moved to the West Country.

“The Estate has been supportive of the process from the beginning, and while we aren’t the directors of the Bottle and Glass limited company any longer, we are still supporting Carl and Anna to get the shop up and running and the lease will be in the name of the new Bottle and Glass company. This was all planned long before the village meeting.

“We of course don’t want the villagers to be alarmed - this all happened months and months ago; ideally we didn’t want to draw attention to something that wouldn’t have a bearing on the shop’s future, but we can’t control the media unfortunately. 

“Hopefully the villagers can see the progress being made in the shop and can keep abreast via Carl and Anna.”