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VILLAGE SUPPORTS CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE THIS HISTORIC BUILDING FOR
More than 30 residents of Blackwater met with local representatives last night to discuss proposals for the restoration of the Blackwater Institute building for use as a community building. There is currently no village hall or other public meeting place in the village besides the school hall.
The Blackwater Institute was the first of over 70 public buildings funded by the generosity of John Passmore Edwards, the Victorian philanthropist.
Given to the village of his birth, in 1889, the building now needs extensive restoration to bring it back into full use for all of the village, as was originally intended by Passmore Edwards.
The villagers attending last nights meeting gave their overwhelming support for the proposals and a Steering Group was formed to take the proposals forward. District and Parish Councillor David Came was elected Chairman, St Agnes Parish Councillor Dennis Howland vice chair, Charlie Palmer Treasurer and Dean Evans Secretary. 17 others offered to be directly involved in the steering group
Although there was some concern over whether Blackwater could support a village hall or whether the Institute building was the best suited for this purpose it was generally agreed that since any bids for funding would have to be supported by a sound business plan, if a proposal was not put together then they would never know. “If we do nothing then we’ll get nothing”, was the view expressed by one resident whilst another added, “ You might as well take the L out of Blackwater and call us backwater”. It was particularly encouraging to see younger residents of the village attending and offering to help.
Councillors informed the meeting of various funding sources that could be available locally, through the Parish and District Councils, whilst Jon Teague, Community Buildings Officer for Cornwall Rural Community Council offered advice on funding bids and contact with other communities that have recently taken this route. He was, he said, encouraged by the support being given at the meeting.
A further meeting has been arranged for 12 February, again at 7.30 pm in the school hall but in the meantime steering group members will be pursuing the potential sources of funding to ensure that any tight deadlines are not missed.
Further details from Dean Evans 01326 212262.
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PARISH COUNCIL SUPPORTS RESTORATION PROJECT
SUPPORT FOR CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE THE BLACKWATER LITERARY INSTITUTE
13 February, 2008
At the St Agnes Parish Council meeting on Monday evening, 4 February, Councillors gave unanimous support to the recent campaign to restore the Blackwater Literary Institute building and reopen it as a village hall. As well as providing assistance in producing a village survey to canvas further support for the project Councillors promised £500 to start of the fund raising campaign.
Dean Evans, secretary to the Restoration Steering Group, said that he was pleased with the support given by the Council. “With the knowledge that the Parish Council is behind us in our campaign we can now progress our proposals to fund the restoration of this important building and also to plan to make the Institute, once more, the centre of village activities.”
The next meeting of the Steering Group will be held in the village school on Tuesday 12 February, starting at 7.30 pm. New members are welcomed as the intention is to seek as wide a consensus as possible to the proposals. Those unable to attend can keep up to date with the proposals by logging on to the Blackwater Literary Institute Web site which has been launched under the CommuniGate scheme.
Given to the village of his birth, in 1889, the Blackwater Institute was the first of over 70 public buildings funded by the generosity of John Passmore Edwards, the Victorian philanthropist.
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RESIDENTS SET FUND RAISING TARGET
Members of the Blackwater Literary Institute Restoration Steering Group braved the winter weather on Tuesday night (11 March) to discuss progress on fund raising for their ambitious project. The Group aim to raise £130,000 to restore the Passmore Edwards Institute and reopen it as a village hall. Whilst bids are being submitted to the regional and national funding bodies a target of raising £10,000 locally has been set. Members were pleased to hear that although their Group only formed in January this year they have already raised £2,200. Following the promise of £500 from the St Agnes Parish Council letters have been written to all of the local businesses requesting help. Quick and generous responses have been received from Conway Bailey Transport, Acland Plant, Wheal Briton Travel and Charlie Palmer, a former secretary of the Institute when it was open as a members snooker club.
A village survey was carried out by Steering Group members last month which showed overwhelming support for provision of a village hall and it has been decided to form a “Friends of the Institute” group to help to build on the villagers existing support and enthusiasm in raising the funds needed. Membership of the “Friends” would be open to any individual for a minimum donation of £1 towards the restoration, although it is hoped that those that can afford to do so will give more. A membership form can be downloaded from the Institute’s website or is available from steering group members.
The Steering Group will be arranging to hold a spring BBQ in the village over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend and will be opening the Institute on Saturday 29 March, from 10 until 12.30 so that villagers can see the extent of the work required to restore the building.
The Blackwater Institute was the first of over 70 public buildings funded by the generosity of John Passmore Edwards, the Victorian philanthropist. Given to the village of his birth, in 1889, the Institute has served the village well, mainly as a reading room and games room. The building now needs extensive restoration to bring it back into full use for the entire village, as was originally intended by Passmore Edwards.
Residents of Blackwater, and anyone else interested in saving this historic building, are invited to attend the next Steering Group meeting on 8 April 2008. Meetings are held in the school hall commencing at 7.30pm.
12 march 2008
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Carrick District Council Grant gives green light to Restoration
Members of the Blackwater Institute Restoration Steering Group were celebrating this week after receiving news that Carrick District Council had backed their project to restore the Institute with a grant of £19,000.
Whilst fund raising has brought in financial support from several local businesses and both Chacewater and St Agnes Parish Councils this is the first major grant to be received since the Group was established in January. They intend to restore the 100-year-old Passmore Edwards building and to reopen it as a village hall. The support from the Carrick District Council Community Fund enables work to replace the roof to be completed and further progress to be made on bringing this historically important building back to life. When Passmore Edwards gave the building to the people of Blackwater in 1899 it was for the benefit of the whole community. That need still exists, as there is currently no public meeting room in the village apart from the Primary School hall and many local groups have disbanded because of nowhere to meet.
Councillor Dennis Howland, Vice Chairman of the Restoration Group, has been campaigning for a village hall for Blackwater for some years. “This is wonderful news”, he said, “It will make all the difference to Blackwater to have their own community building, somewhere for all of the village to meet”. “But we still have much to do and more money to raise to complete the project. I hope that everyone in Blackwater will continue to show their support and join us in making this happen”.
Chairman David Came was delighted for the group to have been successful in it's bid to the Carrick Community Fund and said the group was looking to other funders to get them closer to the £130,000 anticipated cost. "We are hoping for people to offer some help in kind to keep the overall costs within budget. We are currently looking for a surveyor to inspect the building and give a professional opinion on it's current state. If there anyone willing to do this either without charge or at reduced cost to help with this community project, or can help in any other way, I would be pleased if they would contact me on 01872 561626."
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