community

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New houses next to Bowling Club?

The Parish Council will be considering plans about a community group’s self-build project for the “Co-op field”, directly opposite the Bowling Club car park, at their next meeting on December 9.

Hebden Bridge & Todmorden Community Self Build Housing Community Interest Company (usually known as HATS CIC) are looking for a site suitable for self-building about 20 houses – a mix of 2,3 and 4 bedroom houses according to this article by energyroyd.org.uk., which says the houses would be sustainably built to a high standard, with room for gardens and allotments.

They say the houses would be available for modest rents, and would remain the property of the trust so they could never be sold at a profit on the open market.

Roger Greenwood, clerk to the parish council, said: “The council is not aware of any specific intentions in respect of this land – a request for Asset Transfer from Calderdale Council to the Parish Council failed and therefore remains in C/dale ownership. The HATS CIC issue will be considered at a future meeting.”

More information about the Hebden Bridge & Todmorden Community Self Build Housing CIC is available on their website. The following is taken directly from it:

The Hebden Bridge & Todmorden Community Self Build Housing CIC is a community interest company incorporated by volunteers and residents of the Upper Calder Valley concerned over the long term provision of affordable housing within the community. 

The objectives of the project is to deliver a housing development and mechanism for narrowing the differential gap between average housing cost and average wage of young people and families in Hebden Bridge and Todmorden, through:                
                – Community Land Trust
– Self Build
– Flagship Development for the Zero Carbon Challenge
– Co-operative Housing

What is a Community Land Trust?
A Community Land Trust is a mechanism for acquiring and holding land for the benefit of a defined locality or community, and operates to capture the value of the land for the community in perpetuity. The formation of a Community Land Trust can deliver affordable housing for local people on modest incomes by taking the land cost out of the total price of a home.

Why Self Build?
Self Build Initiative – by inviting members of the community, in need of an affordable option for family housing, to contribute 15 hours per week of their own labour, to build part or all of their home, up to 25% of the build cost may be represented in terms of sweat equity.

Why Flagship Zero Carbon Development?
Flagship Development for the Zero Carbon Challenge – Construction and designs to flagship zero carbon targets may achieve up to 70% reduction in typical household fuel consumption costs.

What is a Housing Co-operative?
Housing co-operatives are groups of people who collectively own and manage the properties they live in. The premise of housing co-operative is that it will never be sold or flipped for profit so members can choose to remain in the co-op for a long time. This encourages involvement and commitment to the community and allows members to feel secure in their co-op and their neighbourhood.

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Bunting on show at museum and our site

cropped-bunting-1.jpgHeptonstall’s Community Bunting Project is to be displayed at Heptonstall museum until the end of the month, and again when the museum re-opens in Spring.
If you can’t get along to the museum, keep clicking different pages to see the bunting in our random display header.
Each individual flag has been created and designed by a different household, family or individual and the design has been inspired by the theme of ‘our villages and the views all around us – near or far’. The flags are called I Spy flags as each one has a letter or two stitched to the back, intended to give the viewer a clue to what the local image on the front is…..a fun game to play with children looking at the community bunting and guessing what the designs are of!
cropped-bunting-2.jpgThe first showing of the flags was at the Heptonstall Festival 2013 and they will now be displayed in Heptonstall Museum.
A book of testimonials accompanies the project. It contains personal explanations of each of the bunting designs written by the families that created them.
This is a living history project that is intended to grow and grow, so we want more and more people to get involved.
cropped-bunting-3.jpgHow to get involved…
Please see the template on display at Heptonstall Museum and Heptonstall Post Office Notice Board. The template is just a paper template, made from an A4 piece of paper, to show you the correct size of the triangular bunting flag. Draft your own copy of the template and maybe even do one to pass on to a friend too. Once you have your template, find your own fabric, new or reused and cut out your flag. Cut out two so you can do both sides.
cropped-bunting-4.jpgOn the front, do your design inspired by the theme of ‘our villages and the views all around us – near or far.’ Use whatever fabrics you like and create your design by sticking, hand stitching, machine stitching, patchwork, knitting or appliqué. Anything goes! Interpret the theme however you like, just so long as its meaningful to you. Perhaps you’ll do an image of a monument like Stoodley Pike or Heptonstall Church; or something more personal such as your washing blowing in the wind, your guitar, your favourite tree or your dog!
cropped-bunting-5.jpgOn the back, put letters to describe the view you’ve chosen e.g. SP for Stoodley Pike, HC for Heptonstall Church, T for Tree, B for Bluebells etc. This is so that children can play an ‘I Spy’ game with the flags when they are displayed.
Once you have completed both sides, return the flags to Heptonstall Museum or Heptonstall Post Office. They will be added to the bunting set asap. Make sure you include the following information on a piece of paper – your name, where you live, the date and a description of your flag and any other comments about how special this ‘view’ is to you. These bits of paper will be kept and added to the project book of testimonials.
cropped-bunting-6.jpgThanks so much for taking part, please spread the word and pass this on to your friends! Any questions please contact anothercuriousidea@gmail.com or zeitgeisthair@gmail.com.