Helps lonely people back into social life.
Planning Permission!
We have now been granted Planning Permission from EHDC. This is temporary and must be renewed in five years time. But that is just the start; we now need to get the existing storage containers moved and to buy the site cabins to be used as our workshop. But all this means we are on the way!
Planning permission has been granted to carry on with the completion of our project to build a new Men’s Shed in Bordon. However, this permission depends on a noise impact assessment by a professional company. The cost will be in the order of £700, but it will be money well spent if it gives us the requisite planning permission. We hope to employ Sound Planning Ltd of Farnham to do the work. Once this is submitted, the work really begins: previous storage to clear, cabins to purchase, and most importantly the grant from EHDC.
Then we can start to build up the Men’s Shed, hopefully to same standard that we had before. Sometime later this year we hope to open the shed.
I’d like to give you an update on events surrounding Bordon Men’s Shed:
In December The Men’s Shed were asked by the Phoenix Theatre to build a pirate ship for use in the naughty pantomime Robinson Crude-Soe which was played in mid December ( I was away at the time), as reported before.
We have also been commissioned by the Phoenix to help with other productions including making a representation of a boxing ring for a play in June. We were contacted by Selborne Primary School to make some play toys for use in the outdoors area, including a mud kitchen, sand pit cover, a bucket pulley system and stands for play trays. These projects are ongoing, The Phoenix also asked us to move some kerb stones, which were used on the tank testing area and were languishing at the back of the Phoenix’s land. These were to be placed at the entrance to the front of the theatre as shown below:
…to stop cars going through that area which is for pedestrians. There is access for wheelchair users. We spent time pressure-washing them ready for painting the same colour as the blocks shown. This will happen tomorrow (Friday). We have been lucky in that the Phoenix have said we can keep the centre shed behind the theatre for as long as we need it. It has been very useful for the projects so far, although it is a bit cramped with 8 of us in there! We have installed some benches and machinery in there to be able to do some small jobs. Our thanks go to Jacquie Bruton in Headley for allowing us to store some of our benches and cupboards in her garage.
As to the permanent workshop: Our planning application to place two ex-site cabins supplied by Wernicks of Farnham in place of the existing storage containers, has at last been accepted by the EHDC Planning Department. They have told us we can expect a decision on the application after March 11th. If this is favourable we await the freehold of the theatre and the land around it which they have applied for through Homes England and is expected very soon; this is essential for us to proceed as it will allow the Phoenix to do much more with their future projects without referral. When that is granted it will be all systems go although there is a lot of work to be done.
I receive a lot of requests asking about the Men’s Shed and when it will be opening, so hopefully will have a lot more interest when it does finally open which I would expect to be this summer, hopefully.
This is the paint job:
The Phoenix Theatre in Bordon had a successful run with the panto Robinson Crusoe last weekend. Due in no small part to the pirate ship built by the Bordon Men’s Shed ( see photo). This was built over several days by 4 members of the Shed but most especially Reg Bettles, who devised the design and was the driving force behind the build. Unfortunately I did not see the panto because I was out of the country, but I’m assured there were sell out crowds for all performances. Well done to all concerned.
The Phoenix Theatre in Bordon asked the Bordon Men’ shed to build a pirate ship for the Phoenix Players production of Robinson Crusoe taking place in the 2nd week of December. It’s a adult ‘saucy’ panto. We built the pirate ship out of an old prop shed that was left in our temporary workshop behind the theatre. Once constructed, more artistic people in the theatre will decorate it. Ho ho me hearties!” Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!
This is a diagram of the proposed site cabins to replace the storage containers shown above. Two of them will be joined together to make a large workshop.
We had a successful pre-planning meeting with EHDC planning department this morning and it all sounds very hopeful. We were given pointers about the formal planning application which we will take on board and apply for planning permission very soon.
The re-opening of the Phoenix Theatre in Bordon was successful on Saturday 26th October.
The Bordon Men’s Shed was invited to attend to show what we are doing and to demonstrate some of our skills. It was a very successful day and we gathered many names of people who are interested.
This Saturday 26th October, the Phoenix Theatre is re-opening after a major refurbishment. The Men’s Shed will be there in the outbuilding behind the theatre demonstrating our skills and some of our equipment. Come along, meet the gang and see if you like to join us.
Pending a permanent workshop to be placed behind the Phoenix Theatre, they have offered us a temporary workshop in the outbuilding behind the theatre. There are three rooms, one is used by the Deadwater Valley Trust as a workshop, another is used as a storage area and we have been offered the middle room until after the grand opening of the theatre at the beginning of October. We spent the morning repairing leaking areas in the roof with flashband along the ridge tiles. Hopefully our repairs have been successful. When the room is empty we will move some work benches in and demonstrate some of our skills. Here is Ian one of our members up on the roof doing part of the repair.
Dangerous Work!
Bordon Men's Shed