Word is getting around of an exciting new community project to purchase the Winning Horse pub and transform it into a thriving community venue to revitalise the Coverts Road area of Claygate.
The idea to use the derelict building to benefit the local community came from the Claygate: The Way Forward’s working groups. A separate group has now been formed to develop the proposal to purchase the building for the community.
The project involves an application to the Government’s “Community Ownership Fund” for the a grant towards the purchase price and refurbishment costs. Match-funding of a further £300,000 will need to be raised locally to secure the funding.
The timescale is tight as it has just been announced that, because of the General Election, the final round of the Community Ownership Fund has been brought forward from 2025 to June 2024!
So far the group has:
Joined the Plunkett Foundation to get advice and support for the community purchase
Set up the Claygate Community Benefit Society and registered it with the FCA.
Secured £2,000 seed funding from Claygate Parish Council for building valuation and survey costs
Secured a further £50,000 Community Infrastructure Levy grant from Claygate Parish Council subject to securing the Community Ownership grant.
Produced a draft Business Plan detailing the services and facilities the venue could offer.
The next step is to demonstrate there is support from the community for the project. Please help by completing this short survey (5 minutes max) to give us your views and ideas about how the building could be used. The survey deadline is Weds 19 June.
For further details about the project or to get involved please email claygatecbs@gmail.com