Odd Down Community Association has received over £55,000 towards youth and community facilities thanks to an agreement made by Bath & North East Somerset Council with a housing developer who has built homes on land formerly occupied by the Clarks shoe factory at Rush Hill.
The Section 106 Agreement was made when planning permission was granted by the Council for the development of six houses in place of a community centre that had previously been granted planning permission but not yet built. The funding will contribute towards a new Youth and Community Building, a toilet refurbishment at Odd Down Community Centre, toddler safety and play equipment, musical equipment, and a local football strip.
The Council recently wrote to Graham Pearson, Secretary of Odd Down Community Association, to agree the projects the group put forward. He said, “This has been very welcome funding to improve local facilities, particularly for young people and for a number of groups that offer activities that are of great benefit to the younger members of our community of Odd Down, for example Brownies, Youth football, Youth Music, parents and toddlers. We estimate that several hundred young people and their families, as well as other members of our community will benefit for many years to come. We are very grateful to the Council for making this grant to meet needs identified by local people.”
More information on the benefits of the funding will be given at the Annual General Meeting of the Community Association at 7.30pm on Friday 11th November at the Youth & Community Centre in Odin’s Road, Odd Down.
Councillor Tim Ball (Lib-Dem, Twerton), Cabinet Member for Homes and Planning, said, “Whenever there is a planning application for development, Bath & North East Somerset Council looks very carefully at whether the developer should be making a financial contribution to improve the local community. I’m really pleased that in this case young people in Odd Down will be benefiting from our policy with a range of excellent improvements and initiatives.”
Councillor Nigel Roberts (Lib-Dem, Odd Down), has supported the Community Association in their discussions with the Council. He said, “This was an excellent example of a community coming together to decide its own priorities and achieve them. Originally, a community facility was to be built in the Clark’s estate, but with other halls and community facilities in the immediate area, the money has been spent in a way which is more advantageous to local people. It’s pleasing to see so much going on the area and allows us something more to build upon.”
Rev Alan Bain, Chair of Odd Down Community Association which facilitated the transfer of the Section 106 money to the local community said, “It’s been encouraging to see the amount of Community work which happens in Odd Down and to be able to contribute to its success through the 106 grant. All of the groups receiving grants are doing an excellent work in the area and we support them wholeheartedly.”
Ten local groups, the Centre, and local Primary School have benefited from the grant. These include:
1. Brownies and Guides meeting at URC Church in Odd Down;
2. Children’s groups and Mother & Toddler Group meeting at the Salvation Army Hall;
3. Odd Down Football Club Youth Team;
4. St Philip’s Primary School playground;
5. Youth Music and activities at the Youth & Community Centre in Odins Road and at St Philip’s Church. The Youth & Community Centre in Odins Road has had its facilities improved and the grant contributed to a new Youth Centre opened this year next to St Philip’s Church which supports 3 young people’s groups.
6. St Philip’s School were given a grant towards all weather artificial turf to their Infant playground.
