The Spout and the Green
Bubbenhall Spring (Spout) and
Village Green Restoration Project Committee.

Meeting of Village Green and Village Spring Restoration Committee on 25th June 2008 at The Malt Shovel, Bubbenhall.
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Present: John Green, Gill Green, Penny Porter. Advised: The Committee plus Dawn Eady and Graham Miles.
Chair: Tony Sproul

Tony Sproul produced the following Report

As we approach the culmination of all of our efforts over the past two years, much of the work of the individual members of the Committee and our supporters, takes place on an ongoing and relatively unsung basis. There is in general an awareness of progress and therefore the need for discussion is much reduced. Much of the ongoing activity is within the area of finishing detail and funding balance.

Because I will be away for the next Parish Council Meeting, this note will serve as an update.

1. Matters requiring Parish Council support and approval.

• NEW FUNDING: The funding that we have successfully applied for from WREN for £5000 requires our “third party funder” to pay the 11% levy on the grant – i.e. £550.
Is the Parish Council willing to provide this funding? This grant will be used to
complete pathways on the green, to provide the new Spring water outlet and
provide benches and a storyboard.

• ONGOING MAINTENANCE OF THE RESTORED AREA: Primarily this covers regular grass cutting and grass cuttings removal, strimming the inaccessible bankings, keeping the trees and hedgerow tidy and general TLC. A first quotation received for £75/cut/visit by Wagstaffs was apparently not approved by the Council. As a purely interim measure, Cyril Hancox of Moat Close has agreed to cut and remove the grass provided we pay for the petrol. Coupled with the efforts of other members, this will buy a little time.

However this is a wider issue and following a detailed discussion with Graham
Miles of Warwick CC, I will be sending a proposal to the Parish Council which
addresses this issue particularly and Village maintenance is general.

• SPENDING: Discussions re the outstanding loan are ongoing. See separate note to Dawn Eady.

• ELECTRIC POWER TO THE VILLAGE GREEN: In laying the new kerbing and pavement up to the bus shelter and the pathway, Graham Miles has arranged for underground trunking to be in place under the new pavement so that there will be no need to disturb the newly laid pathway. This will be essential should we get agreement to install mains electricity to the rear of the bus shelter. This would be used to power the spring water pump and any lighting/power that may be required for future events on the Village Green. An alternative power source scheme is being reviewed with eon – the provision of a “lighting” supply based on an un-metered cost. Their quotation is awaited. Either way we will require ongoing support from the Parish Council re electricity costs. Current rough estimated is around £200/annum.

This now becomes a vital agreement, in bringing back the Spring water source, with the likely switch from the photo- voltaic solution to mains. This coupled with the future potential, to feed the “Spout” should it dry up again.

2. The Village Green/ Village Bus Shelter
Current activities:

• The Water Quality report is to hand from John Langley @ Warwick DC. A further test is indicated which the DC will carry out.

• A meeting is planned with Jeff Mountford of submersible pump supplier Grundfos to determine power requirements for the spring water supply, from a mains supply.

• The new granite kerbing and tarmac pavement access to the bus shelter is under way under the watchful eye of Graham Miles of Warwick CC.

• New top soil, courtesy of John Green/John Hughes has been supplied and the area around the oak tree area has been landscaped and seeded. Thanks are due to Alan Swinscoe for his assistance. Thanks to Penny for her restoration of the bench.

• The original trough is in very poor condition and will need to be replaced sooner than later.
Roy Pound of Smiths is still looking at spout outlet designs to finish off.

3. Future Expenditure:
Designs and funding is in place for the Village pump feature area and for the floor of the bus shelter. It is planned that we will use stonemason Stuart Power as the contractor.

Treatment of the pathway into the Pattinson’s field is being discussed with Graham Johnson.

Oak bench designs and a Village Storyboard are being considered,

4. Future Fund raising:
There have been several suggestions regarding fund raising events for the Village Green Project. Duncan Sibley has suggested a Village Hall evening with food and bar and an “event”. Maybe an interesting and “known” name from the restoration or environmental area could be persuaded to support us with a talk.
Possibly an opening event on the Village Green? Ideas would be welcomed!

Tony Sproul.

This site is supported by the Bubbenhall Parish Council.
If you wish to contact us please do so to the Parish Clerk -

Mrs Dawn Eady, 24 Coopers Walk, Bubbenhall CV8 3JB, 02476 303957
dawn.eady@virgin.net