The Rodborough Fields Preservation Group (RFPG) is delighted to announce that its offer for part of Rodborough Fields and Frome Banks has been accepted.
With the bid accepted, time is of the essence, so all those who have generously pledged funds to support the bid are being asked to honour their pledges via https://rodboroughfields.org.uk/.
The public’s response to the launch of the pledge campaign in mid-March was phenomenal and demonstrated the importance of the fields for local people. In only three weeks, they offered enough support for the Preservation Group to offer to buy Lot 1, the field between Arundel Drive and the River Frome.
Now this offer has been accepted, as well as asking people to honour their generous pledges of financial support, the Rodborough Fields Preservation Group are renewing their call for donations to support the purchase via https://rodboroughfields.org.uk/donate/.
Donations can also be made by cheques payable to “Stroud Common Wealth Community Benefit Society Limited” which can be delivered to the Stroud Valleys Project shop, 8 Threadneedle Street, Stroud, GL5 1AF.
Donors are being asked to please consider completing a Gift Aid declaration, which can increase the value of your donations by 25% if you are a UK resident taxpayer. This could add a significant amount of additional money towards the purchase price and ongoing costs.
Buying the field is only the beginning. The group will be looking at what needs to be done to enhance the site’s wildlife, educational and leisure potential, to maintain the public access and field boundaries, and ensure the public can use the site safely.
A spokesperson for the Rodborough Fields & Frome Banks Preservation group said: “We’re so thrilled to have our offer for one of the fields accepted and have been blown away by the generosity of local residents. When we started the campaign, we really were unsure whether or not there was any hope of bringing this important green space into community ownership
“However, ever since our first public meeting there has been an overwhelming support, with people coming together to try to protect Rodborough Fields for the community. We’d like to thank everyone who’s backed the campaign so far, and invite everyone to get involved.”
On 1 April, an informal tender of £200,000 was submitted by Stroud Common Wealth Community Benefit Society (SCW) on behalf of the Rodborough Fields Preservation Group (RFPG), to bring this piece of land into community ownership. Stroud Common Wealth is a local charity which helps groups around the area to buy local buildings and facilities for community use. Given the time required for the Rodborough Fields Preservation Group to establish itself as a formal organisation, Stroud Common Wealth has generously offered to be the holding organisation owning the field until the Preservation Group is ready to take it over. Therefore, it will receive all current donations and handle the transfer of ownership.
The other part of the site, referred to in marketing materials as Lot 2, is protected as part of the Cotswold National Landscape (formerly known as the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). The Rodborough Fields Preservation Group hopes to work with any new owner in the future to ensure the preservation and enhancement of all the fields.
Donations to support the purchase can be made via https://rodboroughfields.org.uk/donate.
