THREAT to Orion Harriers' Clubhouse
Sep 24, 2008
A couple of mooted options of ways forward for Orion
to maintain a club base in Epping Forest
can be read about...
HERE
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On September 4, the Corporation of the City of London
hosted a meeting at
The Warren for Orion Members
to hear about their plan for a Heritage Lottery Bid
and the redevelopment
of our clubhouse.
Despite keeping this event fairly low key, far more members turned up
than the Corporation could accommodate.
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Go to the following link for the 'consultation' document,
created by The Corporation of the City of London.
When completing it, do not forget to stress that you/your family use the Forest
for our sport - RUNNING!
And include your contact details.
THANK YOU.
'Consultation' Document...
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As most of you know, The Corporation of the City of London is in the process of bidding to
the Heritage Lottery Fund for funding to expand the Forest archives
and have a 'community' room on the site of Our Clubhouse.
In November, The Corporation plans to submit a £6m funding bid to HLF...
...which will include NO provision for facilities for Orion Harriers!
The Corporation will submit a planning application to Waltham Forest in parallel.
The Corporation has extended our current annual lease until June 2009, but if the bid is successful
THIS would be our LAST full year lease.
Orion Harriers club contributes much to the Forest and to the community in introducing members,
particularly our juniors and their parents, and adults/children from other clubs and schools to Epping Forest.
We have a long, proud and distinguished history/heritage of running from Our Clubhouse on this site,
and delight in sharing our love and knowledge of 'our beloved forest' with all-comers.
Though we have made our case on a number of occasions,
The Corporation has decided to press ahead with its bid.
The Corporation has now offered us in principle a suitable building at Jubilee Retreat
(though it would be dependent on building work for which WE would have to raise money and gain planning permission).
The Corporation has also suggested that we move to the Connaught Tennis/Bowls Club. Though this has potential,
it would be reliant on the agreement of the Connaught membership, as well as some building work which would
also require that WE raise funds and gain planning permission.
Help.
We need Orion members to sign our currently in-house petition and to complete responses to
The Corporation's 'consultation exercise' (copies available from Jane Farrier).
Also we will need some specialist help. If any members are (or who know people who could help us who are)...
Architects; Planning Consultants; Planning Officers/Committee Members; Solicitors;
Quantity Surveyors; Surveyors; Project Managers or Building Contractors as well as
those who know about fundraising and grant applications
Please contact Tim Wright or Jane Farrier ASAP. Contact details below.
Any other suggestions, offers of help or contacts in any of the relevant organisations are also VERY welcome.
Once we have definite options, we will call a club meeting to agree the way forward.
Our Clubhouse is something we all care passionately about.
We are working with The Corporation's officials and will need its support,
irrespective of where our clubhouse is, so please do do nothing to undermine that,
at this stage.
Tim Wright 079 1018 5162 thgirwmit@hotmail.com
Jane/Mark Farrier 020 8523 2642 jane@farrier4375.orangehome.co.uk
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