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Killinghall Glebe...
A triumph of village determination
The story so far...
New Play Facilities in Killinghall Glebe
In June 2004 Killinghall Glebe, was put on the open market for sale by open tender (i.e. to be sold to the highest bidder).
By forming an the Action Group and letting our feelings, and those of the rest of the people in our community be heard (600 name petition collected in just one week), pressurising the local branch of the Church of England (Owners of the Glebe) by letter and in the local press, we managed to convince them to sell this land to the village, which has not had a designated play area since approximately 1978.
Sandwiched between two very busy roads, namely the A61 and B616, the village of Killinghall if anywhere, needed a safe and secure community space available to all residents.
The Action Group and Parish Council then joined forces to raise the £25,000 that the Church of England wanted to secure and purchase the land. The sale was completed in May 2005, however the story does not stop there.
The Action Group pledged to make the Glebe into a meaningful space for the whole community and have worked tirelessly to raise funds to make the glebe accessible to all, and equip it with a playground.
New Park Benches in Killinghall Glebe
The Action Group's work included:
Installing Drainage
Removing Old Fencing
Removing Barbed Wire
Building a Pathway
Installing Park Benches
Erecting Playground Equipment
Felling and Pruning Trees
Planting over 4,000 Bulbs
Erecting New Fences
The Killinghall Glebe Action Group are justifiably proud of their achievements to date.
Committee member, Lucy Whiting told Harrogate.com, "We have held dozens of fund raising events during the past year, including monthly quiz nights, a lottery, raffles and the circulation of a monthly newsletter to 600 homes since the beginning of the campaign in 2004."
Lucy continued, "Despite our best efforts, it was impossible to raise all of money required for the project, and we are very lucky to have secured a grant of almost £25,000 from the waste recycling scheme (WREN), about £14,000 from DEFRA, and £5,000 from the National Lottery. Together with money from donations and fundraising, the Action Group has raised in excess of £80,000 which is just amazing".
However the fundraising continues, to help pay for more benches, litter bins, trees, shrubs, and bird boxes. To this end, the Action Group are holding a Valentine's Ball on 4th February at The Pavilions, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate - for futher information, please call Helen Weeks on 01423 538469 or Sarah Pennock on 01423 505482.
