A major new project gets under way to replace current run down buildings with one that will serve as HQ for 1st Dursley Scout Group, Meyer Explorer Scout Unit and meeting and training rooms for the Cotswold Vale District Scout Council.
Headed by Andy Cole, the District Commissioner for the Costwold Vale District, a working group has been set up to look at providing a new building suitable for use by Scouts in the Dursley area.
Reasons for a new building
1st Dursley Scout Group
I am sure that most people who have seen the Hut will acknowledge that the present HQ for the 1st Dursley Scouts is past it's sell-by date.
We, the executive committee of 1st Dursley Scout Group, became increasingly concerned in 2009/10 about the state of the HQ building at Rope Walk. Scout Groups never have very much money to throw around and building maintenance was never high on our list of priorities. Consequently we are in possession of a very old building that needs major work carried out just to bring it into a reasonable condition.
- The layout of the building, where only the first floor is used for activities, means that access is either by a steep fire staircase outside or a steep, narrow staircase indoors. Whatever we do with the building will not get away from the fact that we would be excluding any children with disabilities.
- The building has been patched up over the years with little thought to how it looks and how long the repair would last for.
- The electrics are old; the toilets are unsanitary; the kitchen needs a complete refit; the roof, although dry, needs replacing; the walls are bulging out; the downstairs is very damp and needs tanking and drying out and resurfaced; the outside path to the building needs completely relaying.
- For many years the 1st Dursley Scouts enjoyed access to land outside where it was possible to play games, put up tents and various other Scouting activities. A few years ago the land was bought and developed into a housing estate. As part of the development the building was left perched on the edge of a small cliff. No concessions were given to the Scout Group apart from a metal stairway that leads up to the building.
- An estimate for the ESSENTIAL works to be carried out was in the region of £50,000
The Forge
The Forge was originally the home for the 3rd Dursley Scout Group. The Group has now folded and is owned by the Cotswold Vale Scout District and is used by the Meyer Explorer Unit once a week and by the Cotswold Vale District Committee as a meeting room. This building is seriously underused.
- Although the main meeting area has been recently renovated, the rest is neglected and requires a substantial sum to make it useable.
- The current available area is small
- It has been suggested that the 1st Dursley and the Meyer Explorers jointly use this building but this has been rejected due to lack of space.
Cotswold Vale District
Although a District Scout Council does not participate in regular Scouting activities and does not need a dedicated building, it has been left with one that requires much maintenance. The under-use of the building is not a satisfactory use of funds.
Where we are now
We have formed a Steering Committee with members from 1st Dursley Scout Group, Meyer Explorers and Cotswold Vale District, chaired by the District Commissioner, Andy Cole.
We have put an article in the local newspaper, The Gazette, and have approached the Town Council, Vale Vision and other local groups. To date nothing has presented itself as suitable.
However, a local landowner has offered the use of land just outside of Dursley and we are actively pursueing this line of enquiry. We are very excited about the possibilities that this presents. We are still a long way from deciding that this is the right thing to do but we need to do some work before a decision can be made.
Volunteers Urgently Required
We are therefore currently asking for volunteers to help us with this exciting project. At the moment we are hoping to get help from someone with experience of Project Managing a community project. We are also looking for people who has experience of Planning, Fundraising, Legal and Publicity. If anyone has any experience of these or knows someone who does then please contact us at the email addresses below. Please note that it is not important for anyone helping to have any current interests in Scouting.
admin@1stDursleyScouts.org.uk
oldkingcole2@btinternet.com