SHOP PROGRESS

Villagers will have seen the changes taking place at the shop, with new windows just put in. The long shed at the back had to be removed owing to asbestos. Refurbishment and rebuilding continue at pace. Plastering in the shop should be completed by the end of March, and the PO is booked in to restore the safe and other security items in late March. Remedial work on the residential accommodation continues.

Message from the Post Office:

For further information please visit our Consultation Hub via the link below:

Consultation Hub – Binfield Heath RG9 4DU

The Forge past, present and future

Responses to the feature on the tyring platform in December’s newsletter have helped us piece together more of The Forge’s history. Highlight is the donation of a welding certificate awarded in 1941 to Mr G.F. Jenkins, the village farrier and blacksmith during and after World War Two. There is a photo of him at work in the booklet ‘A Village in Wartime’.

From speaking to some of the very few people who remember Mr Jenkins, a clear picture is emerging of how The Forge was the hub of the community in days when the horse was the main source of pulling power. Our aim now is to make it a hub fit for the 21st century, whilst acknowledging its past.

On site, after a period of deconstruction, reconstruction has started! In January approximately 100 tons of concrete were poured to provide a base for the floors and stabilise the structure, as the older walls have no foundations. The front section has been rebuilt and extended, with an outer layer of reclaimed bricks to match the existing walls. Over the next month most of the old roof will be replaced and a new roof will be added to the front. Reclaimed tiles will be used throughout.

As for the future, much of that is in your hands! The Forge will provide flexible space for a broad range of activities. Our thanks to those who have enquired already about holding exercise classes, a youth club and even ukulele lessons. If you belong to a local club – or may wish to start a new one – please contact us via binfieldheath-forge@gmail.com and we’d be happy to discuss how The Forge could provide a suitable venue.

Finally, for our latest news and a diagram showing the building's new lay-out, please see the notice board at the front of the site.

The Forge Team

Binfield Heath Parish Council will meet on Monday March 23 at 7pm in the Palmer Room, Dunsden

All local people are invited to meet the council and bring up any matters of interest or concern. If you have anything you would like to raise with the council you can do that in the public question time. You can contact the clerk on clerk@binfieldheath.org.uk

Have your say on unitary council reorganisation

This statutory consultation seeks views on the proposals that the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government has received, following the Secretary of State’s invitation to councils in Oxfordshire to submit proposals for unitary local government in the county.

Oxfordshire County Council proposes one single unitary council, South Oxfordshire District Council proposes two unitary councils, to include West Berkshire and Oxford City Council proposes three unitary councils, again including West Berkshire.

To have a look at the proposals and make a choice please respond by completing the online survey at

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/localgovernmentreorganisation

Please make it clear which proposal you are responding to. You can email your response to the questions in this consultation to lgrconsultationresponse@communities.gov.uk. Please include your name and indicate in which council area your home or organisation address is located: Oxfordshire County Council, West Berkshire Council or outside the affected area. Also confirm whether you are replying as a named consultee, submitting an official response on behalf of an organisation that is not on the list of named consultees, or replying as an individual.

Parish Council vacancy

Binfield Heath PC still has a vacancy for a councillor. For details of how to apply please contact Mandy Sermon on clerk@binfieldheath.org.uk . A copy of the full advertisement from SODC can be found on the Parish Council page of this website.