Chairman’s Update – 1st November 2018

Latest Info: Pop up Pub Weekend and Annual Report and Financial Accounts

Dear All,

It was great to see so many of you at our first 3-day Pop up Pub at Fairycroft House last weekend. Despite the half term holiday the turn out was great and much appreciated. Thanks to everyone who came along and made the event such a success. We hope to be able to announce dates for PuP7 soon.

Saturday saw the first AGM of The Saffron Walden Community Pub Ltd (SWCP) in the back room. Business centred on the (now adopted) Annual Report and Financial Statements and a discussion document addressing options for future strategies in the event of a our being unable to purchase the Railway Arms in the short-term. These are on our website and can be read HERE or click the button below or on the RESOURCES page.

The AGM concluded with the election of a new Management Committee to which all eight members of the outgoing committee were elected. Terms of office range from 1 – 3 years to provide for rotation of members. Minutes of the AGM and the full results of the ballot will shortly be posted onto our website.

We are seeking to fill gaps in expertise and capacity in this body and our various working parties. Currently we feel we are stretched in the areas of:

• Governance
• Legal and Planning Advice
• IT
• Marketing and Promotion
• Events Organisation and Delivery

If you feel you have time and skills to offer please get in touch via the secretary@railwayarms.co.uk email address or use the Contact Us form on the website.

Saturday night saw great music by three live bands (Djuology, 2Steps4Words  & Moonshine Coyote) and open stage sessions taken up by Simon Read, Kevin Sporle, Ken Gentry, Dave Kenny and Ed Goldsmith. Thanks to everyone for a great night.

Sunday saw the last of Paul’s giant pumpkins carted off, adding a donation of £28 to the coffers, and the Community Cider making attract apples from as far afield as Tilty. A huge effort resulted in around 160 litres of juice heading off to Paul’s and Andy’s cider houses. The resultant brew will hopefully be available in a community owned Railway Arms before too long.

Much depends, of course, on the outcome of the planning application that is due to be determined tomorrow (2nd November) so please keep an eye on the UDC website for Ref No: UTT/18/2454/FUL.

A second planning application (Ref No: UTT/18/2898/AV) relating to signage identified in the Design Concept document published by Charles Wells on their website has now been submitted. Clearly dependent upon the outcome of the substantive application, the signage is mostly to be attached to the exterior of the building, though it is proposed that two panels are to be painted directly onto the walls.

Cheers
Dave