Need Some Help...

Guys, I need a favour. It will take seconds and cost you nothing, but it could be quite important.

Two years ago, a group of determined local residents here in Shotley started work on a major project: to raise funds and install erosion defences at the foot of Shotley Cliff, in order to prevent the cliff, the wildlife habitat on the clifftop, a public footpath and potentiallly a nearby street, from falling into the Stour estuary. In partnership with Shotley Parish Council and a number of other agencies, last year the volunteer group raised £40, 000 and phase one of the sea defence project was put in place, 90 metres of rock filled gabions. This year, a further 120 metres needs to be installed at an estimated cost of £50, 000 of which we've so far raised £43, 000. And now, thre is a secondary aim: to buy the cliff from its current, uninterested owner (he wants £20, 000 for it) and turn it into a properly managed country park for the enjoyment of the local community.

The Haven Gateway Partnership has £18, 000 to give away to a deserving local project, the winner to be decided by a public vote, and Shotley Cliff is one of the three finalists. What I need you to do is go to www.ilovelandscapes.co.uk and vote for option A, Shotley Cliff, leaving your email address. Or alternatively, you can text LANDSCAPE plus A to 80809. Or, y'know, do both. You could really be making a difference, and helping some good people achieve something really worthwhile-turning a crumbling liability into a real asset to this village. Many thanks.

I wasn't around then . . . did they win or not?

MajorHoy wrote:I wasn't around then . . . did they win or not?

Oh, yes! In fact, it was just the start. We now not only have 275(!)  metres of erosion protection along the foot of the cliff (with a further 600 metres planned when/if we can raise another £240, 000) but are also the proud owners of the cliff, fifty acres of foreshore (Shotley has the only parish council in the UK which actually owns a part of the coastline, most of which is the property of the Crown Estate) and a seven acre woodland now being managed as Shotley Heritage Park. http://shotley.onesuffolk.net/home/groups/shotley-heritage-park/

tony ingram wrote:Shotley has the only parish council in the UK which actually owns a part of the coastline

That is so cool!

My personal dream now is to get hold of an actual Bofors gun for the gun emplacement, as a centrepiece for the Heritage Park.

Is that realistic?

Lucy McGough wrote:Is that realistic?

If we can find another funding source for such a community project. They do turn up on militaria websites. Anywhere between £10, 000 and £50, 000 has been quoted.

Where would you get the money from?

Lucy McGough wrote:Where would you get the money from?

There are still lots of funds out there for community projects, from local authorities or the lottery fund. The trick is finding one that your project fits the required criteria for. A lot of them require the applicant project to be capable of generating revenue for the community or providing local employment, which is why we're struggling a bit to find more funding for the next phase of sea defences. Stopping chunks of the coastline from collapsing isn't, on its own, enough of a goal to secure funding. But if we were intending to employ a deck chair attendant on the beach, that'd be fine!

Stupid rules...   

tony ingram wrote:

Lucy McGough wrote:Where would you get the money from?

There are still lots of funds out there for community projects, from local authorities or the lottery fund. The trick is finding one that your project fits the required criteria for. A lot of them require the applicant project to be capable of generating revenue for the community or providing local employment, which is why we're struggling a bit to find more funding for the next phase of sea defences. Stopping chunks of the coastline from collapsing isn't, on its own, enough of a goal to secure funding. But if we were intending to employ a deck chair attendant on the beach, that'd be fine!

Is there any sort of kickstarter-like crowd-funding website that would allow you to get donations of a few bucks each from people around the world who may be interested in your cause?

Never thought about it, but it's worth looking into!

Yes, it's a really good idea!