Origins
Bollington is a small and attractive former cotton mill town
of some 7,300 people which has undergone significant regeneration
and re-development in the past 20 years, but retains a stone built
character at its core and has three conservation areas. It is located
adjacent to the Peak District National Park some 3 miles from Macclesfield.
Bollington is renowned for its community activity.
Land and property values are very high and safeguarding and securing
property and open space for community uses and benefits is becoming
increasingly difficult. There are a number of buildings and areas
of land in Bollington which could be developed, enhanced or protected
for a range of community and wider benefits. Using a locally based trust
mechanism and working with the statutory authorities will help
to achieve real benefits for the community. The Bollington Town Plan also
indicates a key role for the new Trust, working with Bollington Town Council.
Bollington Initiative Trust has been established with the following
objectives.
Mission Statement
The Trust is a local company with charitable status (Registered Charity
No. 1110683), established to assist in the social, economic and
environmental development of Bollington and its surrounding area.
It has some of the characteristics of a Local Development Trust and
a Community Interest Company, organisations being promoted by the government
to complement local charitable trusts and to encourage social enterprises.
The Trust is a member of the Development Trusts Association.
Objectives
The Bollington Initiative Trust has been launched with the following objectives:
- To promote the conservation, protection and improvement of the
physical and natural environment of the town and its surrounding
countryside
- To assist in the development of facilities and services that
benefit the population of the town, the quality of life
of the inhabitants and its economic development
- To advance the education of the public in heritage and environmental
matters, for both local residents and visitors to Bollington
Activities
In achieving its stated objectives the trust will:
- Work closely with Bollington Town Council, the local authorities
and relevant voluntary organisations
- Own or manage important land and buildings for the benefit of the
local community
- Renovate and regenerate appropriate land and buildings in the Bollington
area
- Lease appropriate land and buildings to other organisations where
this furthers the objectives of the trust and of those organisations
- Make funding applications and receive income from all sources relevant
to the work of the trust
- Encourage partnerships between public, private and voluntary organisations,
to advance projects in the town
- Publicise the work of the trust, produce education and interpretation
materials and encourage public access to land and buildings
where appropriate
BIT will work closely with the Bollington Arts Centre, the Bollington
Civic Society, the Bollington Drop-in-Centre, the Bollington Air Cadets
, the Heyday Play Group, the Bollington Leisure Centre, the Town Plan
Implementation Committee and other voluntary organisations and groups
in the town, assisting them where appropriate and helping them to achieve
new developments if required.
Projects
The type of projects which the Trust will tackle include:
- The restoration of derelict or redundant buildings, for uses that
benefit the community
- The protection and management of open spaces, woodlands and watercourses
- The creation and management of recreation and leisure facilities
for the local population
- The provision of training and educational activities in the town
- The promotion of the town, to assist with its economic development,
including tourism development
- The publishing of educational and promotional materials
Projects presently being developed include Shrigley
Road toilet block, Water Street
school, Tinkers
Clough.
The Management of the Trust
The Bollington Initiative Trust is managed by a management group of
trustees and others, all of whom live in the town or its immediate surroundings.
They are:
Graham Barrow (Chairman) – a heritage and environmental
consultant. Graham was formerly Director of the National Centre
for Environmental Interpretation based at Manchester Metropolitan University
and has worked for the Countryside Commission for Scotland earlier in
his career.
David Haddleton (Secretary) – a retired bank officer
and training manager. David is also Secretary of Bollington Civic
Society and is a trustee of a national charity that protects historic
paddle steamers.
Will Spinks – the Registrar,
Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of the University of Manchester, formerly
with Loughborough University and AstraZeneca.
Lester Humphries – a recently retired senior property expert formerly
with the Co-op. Lester is also vice chair of the KRIV volunteers.
Jon Weston – an independent financial adviser and
owner of Bradshaw Bennett Financial advisers.
Geoff Claughton – a qualified independent accountant
based in Bollington.
David Broadhurst – a former Primary School Head and
part-time clerk of Bollington Town Council who is presently teaching
part-time at a local school.
The trustees are also assisted on the Management Group by:
Joe Wall – Finance Director of the Bollington Insurance
Group.
Margaret Park – a former school teacher.
Kate Gooding OBE – a retired early years education
administrator.
Kate McLean – an independent graphic designer and
web site designer.
Bollington Initiative Trust
November 2007 (updated 2010, 2011)
Contacts
Chairman: Graham Barrow on 01625−573807 or email
Related reading
Development Trust Association - Advancing Assets for Communities