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Villagers step in to save their pub


WHENyet another villagepubwas put on the open market, the com- munity at Stockbury stepped in. A meeting in September was at- tended by 120 people in September, and The Harrow, Stockbury Ltd looks set to serve its first pint as a community pub in July. It has taken months of work, an application to declare the pub of 200 years anAsset of CommunityValue, fund-raising, sales talk with Shep- herd Neame and moves to earn the support of 127 shareholders. There have also been applications for loans and grants, including “more than a pub” money from the charitable or- ganisation Plunkett, which aims to maintain community assets. Villager Chris Porter,whohas led


the £350,000 community buy-out, said: “When you start a project like this you don’t know anything, but there are a lot of communities and groups that have done the same, so there is lots to learn out there. Groups like the Plunkett charity have been extremely helpful.” Fifty volunteers are poised with paintbrushes to redecorate in June,


in the hope that the pub will be up and running by July. Chris said: “This has been a huge project, but it has pulled the com- munity together and everyone is re- ally excited about it opening.” The business will run as a free-


house and community hub, serving a selection of drinks and serving home-cooked food using local in- gredients. There are also plans to use the village minibus to get pen- sioners there once aweek for lunch, to offer coffee mornings, a book swap club and an internet café for those without access to the internet. It will be run by a tenant, and the


advert going to print shortly. Chris, who is pictured with some


of the backers, added: “We will be looking for a couple, ideally a chef and someone front-of-house, to host our community pub.We will work together to see that it evolves to make enough to keep investing and for our tenant to benefit too.” Anyone interested in buying a


share in the pub can find out more at www.theharrowstockbury.co.uk or email stockburypub@gmail.com.


PUBLIC WARNING


! Calling all private landlords


ARE YOU AWARE OF CURRENT LEGISLATION REGARDING YOUR RENTAL PROPERTY?


•Incorrectly lodged deposits - could result in huge fines


• Immigration Act - passport & identification requirements


• EPC clarifications and changes • Legionnaires testing requirements • Gas Safety certificate requirements


•Smoke & carbon monoxide detector regulations


• Taxation changes for landlords


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HOWEVER IF YOU ARE NOT WITH FERRIS & CO


Facelift for neglected pond


THE pond on Hollingbourne’s Millennium Green is being given a 17-year facelift.


Villager Barry Smith has been clearing the pond ofweed on behalf of the


parish council, which hopes to adopt the pond and the Green following the closure of Hollingbourne Millennium Trust, a registered charity responsible for creating the green in 2000. It is hoped the work on the pond – fed by the Bourne –will be finished by


the end of April, when it will be refilled. The derelict duck house will also be removed.


Hollingbourne Parish Council vice chairman AdamWard has been nego-


tiating with Maidstone Council and the Charity Commissioners over the ownership of the amenity for over a year A village litter pick is also planned for April 22. Volunteers are asked to meet in Hasteds at 11amwearing bright clothes or “hi-vis” jackets.


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www.ferrisandco.net Maidstone East April 2017 15


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