Final Report byBewdley Development

Trust

Contents

Covering Letter

Reports on Projects, Results and Achievements

1. Mutli-use Facility and redevelopment of the library/medical centre/St. Georges Hall

2. Business Units

3. Events and Marketing

4. Training and Consultancy

5. Woodfuel and local energy

Lessons learnt

Planned future activities

Income and Expenditure

Appendices

Annual Report and Accounts

Full list of projects undertaken by Bewdley DevelopmentTrust

Cover : Caption

Covering Letter

1. Mutli-use Facility and redevelopment of thelibrary/medical centre/St. Georges Hall

As reported last year, this project has becomeincreasingly complex, with issues arising that haverequired plans to be modified.We have continued tomake progress however and remain hopeful thatfunding and other approvals will be secured in thenear future.

The PCT has approved the redevelopment of theMedical Centre

AdvantageWest Midlands (AWM) has confirmedthe high priority given to the project and hasapproved funding of 800,000 subject to theoutcome of the CSR on 20/10/2010

Community Builders have provided a feasibility grant of 19,000with a view to agreeing a 500,000 grant and loan package.Repayment of the loan has been factored into the business plan

Worcestershire County Council (WCC) has approved theredevelopment of the Library

There is a clear and agreed Forward Programme with atimetable set out by Matrix Medical, who are both the developerand project manager.

The Business Plan has been revised for new enhancements andrefinements

Planning approval has not yet been applied for. However, agreement has been secured withWyre Forest District Council (WFDC) to seek planning permission for St Georges Hallseparately from the remainder of the development, which is likely to streamline the process andsupport approval. Community Builders had agreed to consider a further 50,000 grant to coverthe costs of the planning application alongside the main investment bid, but has now agreed toconsider the grant in advance.

Achievements/ResultsWe have made good progress in this complex and ambitious project, particularly in the currenteconomic climate.The final approvals have not yet been confirmed but we are optimistic of apositive outcome, especially in light of the achievements so far.The complexity of the project andthe changes in the financial position and the new governments emerging polices have requiredthe project to be amended.This has been dome without sacrificing its aims and integrity. In casethe approvals and funding are not all forthcoming, we are developing fall back plans that willenable some progress towards our aims.

An aerial view of the Load StreetDevelopment and the existing StGeorges Hall

2. Business Units

We reported last year that a change of approachbyWyre Forest District Council (WFDC)prevented the planned acquisition of the craftcentre, which was sold to a commercialdeveloper. Despite this setback, we havecontinued to explore possibilities for the RedCross andWRVS sites with some success:

We still have an option to purchase the RedCross site until April 2012 and the owners ofthe adjoiningWRVS site are interested. Weare also askingWFDC to transfer thefreehold of the Red Cross site to BDT.A scheme is being worked up for a planning application with Community Housing Group todevelop social/affordable housing and business units.

Informal indication from planners is that this type of scheme would meet with their approval

Our partnership withWFDC has become stronger, and the Council is keen to explore with uswhether there are any other properties in its possession that could be transferred to us toenable development of relevant services as well as contributing income to the trust to supportits sustainability.

We are also actively exploring the feasibility of ashop in the town centre that would offer displayand selling space to local artists and crafts peopleand local food suppliers, as well as providing us withthe opportunity for closer engagement with ourcommunity, including facilitation of advice andsupport for local businesses by local businesses.This idea is being developed through the BusinessPartnership we have established.The Partnershipalready has more than 70 members, around 20 ofwhom attend Partnership meetings on a regularbasis.

Achievements/ResultsThe withdrawal of the original agreement by the District Council to sell the Lax Lane CraftCentre site to theTrust has meant that a main plank of theTrusts income generating strategythrough building community assets was removed. A revised scheme using the adjoining sites hasbeen commenced, but the timescale for the realisation of the scheme has been put back. Therevised scheme would still include the development of affordable housing of which there is ashortage in Bewdley. Evidence from other market towns suggests that this is still a viable modelfor Bewdley, particularly as it has considerable numbers of home-based workers, particularly inthe creative and visual arts sector.

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Initial plan of redevelopment of the Red Cross andWRVS sites

3. Events and Marketing

Following on from the successful events we reported last year, we have continued and extendedour programme of events, and are increasingly developing these to maximise their beneficial impacton local businesses and the widereconomic, environmental and social benefitsto the town.

The Business Partnership mentionedabove is becoming more engaged in theevents programme.It is helping us to support and extendthe impact of events initiated by otherparties, for example the SevernValleyRailway, especially the 1940s weekend,and a Quilting Festival run by a localbusiness.

Discover Bewdley now in its fifth year. Itis more and more seen as a partnershipevent, particularly with the museum, withwhich we have an excellent relationship,and our creative residents who arebringing unique and replicable featuressuch as our Snakes and Ladders gamewhich took people around the town.

We accessed 10,000 from RDPE (RuralDevelopment Programme for England) topromote the programme of eventsenabling more professional marketing of thetown.

The first Autumn Festival entitled Harvest Fairhas been held to celebrate local produce, towardsour intention to build niche events linked to longterm sustainability of the town energy, food,cultural activities and engagement with thecommunity.This has been developed in conjunction withBewdley Museum and they registered nearly3,000 people for the two days which shows thepilot event has been very successful.A review meeting is planned and likely to result ina repeat event next year.

The first Autumn Festival which attracted nearly 3,000visitors included horse drawn vehicles

A giant dice was used to play snakes and ladder around thetown . Feedback to what is believed to be a unique eventwas extremely positive.

The SevernValley Railways1940s weekend has beenextended into the town andsupported by shops andBewdley Museum

We have helped to increase the corporate hospitalityand family friendliness of the Regatta, and there ispotential to develop these further. For example, wewere planning with the rowing club a gala dinner withJames Cracknell who unfortunately pulled out. Theextent of good media coverage and demand for ticketsindicate that this type of event would be welcomed

We are exploring the feasibility of a Community ShareIssue to purchase vacant shops and redevelop them inways that add value for residents and visitors whileincreasing the sustainability of the trust.

Subject to the outcome of the feasibility referred to above, we hope that our shop front theDiscover Bewdley shop will have a rolling programme of displaysrelated to events involving local groups such as BewdleyOpen Studios.

The trust has excellent links with thecommunity magazine for Bewdley. This 60 pagemonthly magazine is delivered to every householdin the own (5,000) and every issue includes a fullpage of Bewdley DevelopmentTrust page whichhighlights the forth coming major events that takeplace in and around the community.

Achievements/Results TheTrusts role has been to develop the range and quality of events which enhance

economic, social and environmental activity within the town, and contribute to the marketingof its distinctive offer. We expect events to become self financing and, where possible, togenerate income.

We are well advanced in our aim to develop and market a calendar of events whichcharacterise Bewdleys distinctive offer, and which increase both the footfall and amount spentlocally by residents and visitors.

BDT was selected as a regional pilot for a new web-based community information andconsultation system being developed in Pembrokeshire, and supported by NESTA and theMinistry of Justice, amongst others, called Local Eyes.This is a digital tool that aimed to offereveryone a comprehensive view of their community and a variety of easy ways to interactwith it.We hoped this would be a medium for enhancing our community anchor role andcreating an opportunity individuals and groups to share ideas, resources and local decision-making in terms of the economic, social and environment development of the area. . However,the pilot, whilst demonstrating the viability of the approach, led to concerns that thenecessary software development and support for LocalEyes could not be guaranteed, leadingto a loss of confidence in the product.We are looking at alternative ways of providing thetype of web based communication system we need.

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For more Bewdley events visit www.bewdley.org.uk/whats-on

25/26 Sept Harvest Fair

Ellie Hopper 01299 405516

18/19 Sept Art and CraftWeekend

Bewdley Chamber Maids 01299 40422617 October French Market

Bewdley Chamber Maids 01299 404226

30 October Pumpkin Festival

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Exhibition www.totallypatched.com

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over Bewdley during October.

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www.bewdleyfestival.org

12 SeptHeritageOpen Daywww.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/museum

May & June

9 May Raft Race01299 825230

30/31 May Discover Bewdley01299 405516

30 Apr - 3 May Mug House BeerFestival www.mughousebewdley.co.uk

Dates not to miss

22/23 May SevernValley 40thAnniversary Party www.svr.co.uk

26/27th June BOSSee inside back page

20th June Continental Market01299 404226

5th June Pub & Club Regattawww.bewdleyrc.co.uk

12th June CarnivalAngela Pitt 01299 402723

For more Bewdley events visit www.bewdley.org.uk/whats-on

Bewdleys Regatta is one of the largest in the UK

4. Training and Consultancy

We have completed the activities we notedin our report last year. We have completedthe shop front scheme for Stourport undercontract fromWFDC building on workdone earlier in Bewdley

In addition, with the encouragement of theBusiness Partnership, we organised atraining workshop for local businesses onidentifying their training needs, leading to aworkshop on exploiting internet marketingand trading opportunities.

Achievements/Results TheTrust is seeking to develop Bewdleys capacity for generating economic, social and

environmental benefits.Through our work we are identifying expertise and are seeking tobuild upon our achievements in sharing and disseminating this expertise, and also to exploitits income generating potential.

Several shop fronts have benefitted from schemes completedby theTrust

5. Woodfuel and Local Energy

Progress has continued since our last report.Wehave:

been funded through a contract with GrowwithWyre to carry out feasibility studies intoa variety of woodfuel boiler locationsincluding community buildings, schools, and agolf course. 2 boilers installed and workingand 4 approved

carried out a feasibility study on the rolesthat renewables could play in the Load Street development funded byEnergy4 All and carried out by Marches Energy Agency resulting in arecommendation to install solar PV panels on theroof to generate electricity and collect Feed inTariffs.

been contracted by Grow withWyre (27,000)to develop Low Carbon Communities whichinvolves workshops for local communities, lowcarbon champions and engagement with schoolsto develop a number of low carbon advocates

supported the establishment of TransitionBewdley which currently has three workinggroups Energy, Food and Land.

been contracted (54,000) by Grow withWyrefor the delivery of the Selling theWyre project. Further details are set out on the attachedsheet

One of a number of popular workshops on encourag-ing local people to reduce their carbon footprint.

One page summary to be supplied

Lessons Learnt

The trust finds that it is continuously learning and developing in light of its experience. Our mainlearning points include the following:

Recognising, but not being daunted by, the complexity of projects such as the provision of multi-use community facilities. The range of partners involved has emphasised the importance ofactive partnership working to develop strong and productive relationships, looking for areas ofcommon interest and win-win situations.

Awareness that it takes a lot of energy to keep partnerships together we can never take themfor granted

A strong Chairman is crucial to a formal partnership. Chairmanship fromYvonne Leishman,Managing Director of the Community Housing has been crucial to the progress made towardsthe redevelopment of which St Georges Hall is a part.

Funding cannot be assumed; funding priorities change and we need to be alert to the possibilityof funding being withdrawn and to new funding opportunities. The aims of the trust guide us inwhat we aim to achieve using the resources available.

As well as having clarity of vision and aims, BDTs team of staff and directors are tenacious. Wehave stuck with projects that will make a significant impact on our aims while there is any hopeof their successful realisation.

Advice and support is critical. We have had fantastic support throughout fromAWM and fromthe DevelopmentTrusts Association (DTA).

It is important to find common ground with other organisations, particularly local authorities. Ina three tier area such as Bewdley it takes time and effort to work closely with all the localcouncils, but this engagement is bearing fruit, with councils seeing us as an organisation withwhich they can do business. The current political and financial climate means that we will,increasingly, be working with the County Council, though we worry that the formal partnershiparrangements will provide a small organisation like ours littleopportunity to be involved.

Where possible, we have introduced opportunities for givingyoung people work experience, paid if possible. We havebenefitted from the input from young people, for example inthe review of our web based information and the Local Eyespilot.

Three of the young people who have beenprovided with work experience, one of whomhas already taken up a full time post with a Be-wdley based IT company.

Planned future activities

Although this is the final year of our funding, we expect that you will be interested to know howour future plans have been enabled by the support that you have been provided.

Through the appointment of three additional trustees the trust has been strengthened and therange of skills and expertise available has been extended. This has led to some new thinking whichthe board discussed and developed at a recent workshop and this is reflected in our emergingplans for the future. Some of these have been referred to throughout the report, where we haveindicated ways in which our ideas and plans are shaping up, based on our experience

The key points are summarised below.

The development of the multi-use community facility will remain an area of focus and priority. Ifthe expected funding is forthcoming, we will be engaged in the complex task of working withour partners to secure its realisation.If there are gaps in the funding or approvals we will be developing alternative plans that achieveas much as possible of our aims

The governments support for the Big Society, together with reductions in public expenditurewill provide opportunities for the trust, which we intend to exploit.We will be helped by our strong and developing relationships with Local Authorities which seeus as a credible and effective partner. We are considering how best to develop Bewdley as amodel community with more active, friendly and engaged residents from the range ofcommunities.

The relatively new Business Partnership will bedeveloped under the trusts leadership to supportcollaboration and mutual support to benefit individualbusinesses, the towns economy and the experiences ofvisitors and residents

Our expertise in bringing partnerships together willdevelop mutual benefit from events and activitiesarranged in the town.We will help to widen thebeneficiaries of attractions such as SevernValleyRailway and the Regatta

We will continue to take a leading role indeveloping the markets for local produce; as well asthe work of local artists and crafts people.We willinvestigate the feasibility of a Discover Bewdleyshop as a key element of this work and will alsolook into bidding to run the Discovery Centre intheWyre Forest when the contract comes up fortender.

Planned future activities continued

In response to local businesses we will support the development of internet trading,

A key priority from a recent board workshop is the development of the Bewdley website.TheWebsite which was redeveloped and relaunched last December and is being used to promotelocal events, local services now needs a further development to be more dynamic and relatemore closely to the Business Partnership as well as generating some income

We are considering how best to engage more young people in the work of the trust, and howthe trust can support the development of facilities for young people.We see opportunities forbenefits from great collaboration between the trust and local schools.

We will seek to acquire property and other assets to develop opportunities for Bewdley aswell as making the trust financially sustainable.We see a role in facilitating affordable housingwhich is in short supply.

Our vision for training and consultancy in the future is being shaped with the BusinessPartnership, exploring the sharing of expertise to secure sustainable support to existingbusinesses as well as encouraging new ones.We will also seek to offer employmentopportunities for local residents which offer development, and encourage businesses to do thesame.

Income and Expenditure

Appendix 1

Annual Report and Accounts

Appendix 2

Full list of projects undertaken by Bewdley DevelopmentTrust

List with pics where possible

List with pics where possible