Land offer - what should I do?

[veggiechicken]

You have a group. Can that goup not make a decision weight it all up?

If it s JUST done to you then the answer is no.

Assume you would need 4 people to act as trustees ay be to mange the land...

We have a group, most of whom would like an allotment. That's the difficulty with saying No. I could resign but that would achieve nothing in the long run.

[Newton]

VC employ the services of a chartered surveyor specialising in analysing this type of situation. The council should really provide funding for this exercise.

You and your committee could be getting an excellent deal here. Without all the facts I cannot give you any professional advice.

Don't dismiss it though. It sounds quite exiting..........

[veggiechicken]

But the council might think you are. This sounds like a giant millstone they want rid of. If it was any use they would keep the building and let you have the land. There are so many regeneration grants around at the minute there must be some reason why they don't want it. I'd ask why.

I assume you are part of a committee - what do they all think? Whatever you decide it should be a committee decision with shared responsibilty.

The Council do want to off-load the buildings but have offered it to the community first. Its on the Flood plain and so cannot be redeveloped for housing. It was an education/conference centre and has about 20 study bedrooms, a catering kitchen and a laundrette, as well as other peripheral buildings.
All the equipment is included in the transfer - 20 electric kettles anyone?
The Committee are mixed, some are strongly in favour, most would support me (whatever I say!!). Don't get me wrong, there is no conflict, we just want the best for the community.
It really helps to talk to you all about this thanks!

[ladylottie]

Well if you turn it down, the 20 locals who want allotments aren't going to understand why your charity said no without even giving it a try.

But having said that it could (will) mean an awful lot of work for you and it might actually fall mostly TO you if you aren't careful, thus ending your presumably peaceful retirement! On the other hand it might be just what you would like to get your teeth into. What little I know of you tells me that if you do get involved you would be fully committed and do a good job.

Sorry but here's a lot of questions that immediately spring to my mind:

What sort of condition are the buildings in? How long have they been empty? Are they able to be used straight away without much work being done to them? Why have the council not found alternative use for this land and buildings before now? As you know the local area have you already thought of any suitable uses the buildings could be used for? And if they are good then why haven't the council already done something about it?

I think on the face of it, there is great potential and would solve the allotment problem at the same time. You're already quite interested or you wouldn't have spent time checking out grants etc.

But call me an old cynic - the council might just be using this opportunity to get these lands & buildings off their hands.

Needs more thought and discussion with your committee methinks.

[marchogaeth]

The Council do want to off-load the buildings but have offered it to the community first. Its on the Flood plain and so cannot be redeveloped for housing. It was an education/conference centre and has about 20 study bedrooms, a catering kitchen and a laundrette, as well as other peripheral buildings.
All the equipment is included in the transfer - 20 electric kettles anyone?
The Committee are mixed, some are strongly in favour, most would support me (whatever I say!!). Don't get me wrong, there is no conflict, we just want the best for the community.
It really helps to talk to you all about this thanks!

Right, I know exactly where you mean! Do you have any idea what you might do with the building? I really think you need some input from people who know what the potential for them might be, cost etc. In fact some one in the local authority should be able to do that. We have a group called Mentur Teifi that support local initiatives. I don't know what your would be be there are several out there. Could be worth phoning WAG. They are always really helpful. If you tell the person on the switboard what you want to do they can usually help. Not being political but you local Plaid group would also be a usueful starting point as this sort of development is part of their platform.

Sorry I'm too busy to give you much more at the mo but I will ask around and get back to you.

I think the biggest thing you need to ask for is time to work up a development project and again it will be a measure of how well your group will work to see how this first part runs.

Cheers.

[veggiechicken]

Thanks LL. I have no real intention of spending my retirement on this project - I have better things to get my teeth into (don't say a glass at night). And my professional background says this is a risk too far - don't touch it.
The buildings have been largely unoccupied for 4-5 years and need some work. We may be able to screw some money from the Council to put it in a usable condition before its passed over - it may be as a Community Asset transfer.
We have an architect who has looked at the buildings and been a driving force in seeking alternative users for the buildings - but while uses have been found for some of it, it is not sufficient to finance the running costs. There is also asbestos in some of the buildings.
Since we are on the new Round Wales Coastal Path and a cycle route, there is hostel potential - but it is an unknown.
The Committee have been talking, negotiating and researching for about 5 years and cannot agree either to run with it, or back off.
(Pours herself a glass of wine!).

[veggiechicken]

Right, I know exactly where you mean! Do you have any idea what you might do with the building? I really think you need some input from people who know what the potential for them might be, cost etc. In fact some one in the local authority should be able to do that. We have a group called Mentur Teifi that support local initiatives. I don't know what your would be be there are several out there. Could be worth phoning WAG. They are always really helpful. If you tell the person on the switboard what you want to do they can usually help. Not being political but you local Plaid group would also be a usueful starting point as this sort of development is part of their platform.

Sorry I'm too busy to give you much more at the mo but I will ask around and get back to you.

I think the biggest thing you need to ask for is time to work up a development project and again it will be a measure of how well your group will work to see how this first part runs.

Cheers.

Thought you might know it - not many places fit the description!

We have Menter Cwm Gwendraeth. County Coucillor is Independent but may lose to a feisty local who is Plaid at the coming elections.
The Use is the big question - nobody has come up with anything really. We've tried housing associations, Social Services, Student housing, even a Cloud (never did understand that).
There has been a separate Project Group for several years, with some professional business people on it, and they have failed to find a use. Thanks M.

[Newton]

Architects = design ideas. Usually clueless about financial and legal aspects of development.

[marchogaeth]

Are they allowed to sell it with asbestos in?

[veggiechicken]

Are they allowed to sell it with asbestos in?

Don't know. I don't know whether its good or bad asbestos either. Someone does! If they transfer it I suppose it isn't a sale. If we don't take it will probably go to auction.

[veggiechicken]

Architects = design ideas. Usually clueless about financial and legal aspects of development.

There were others on the Development Group - some good business brains actually and a few influential local folk.

[Bigmallly]

I don't know whether its good or bad asbestos either.

Is there good asbestos?...................

[veggiechicken]

Is there good asbestos?...................

I know nothing, I'm from Barthelona......

[Newton]

Blue brown or white. All bad. White less problematic due to size of fibres. Blue and brown very rare usually used in old lagging. White usually in asbestos roofs. Generally of course. It was the exposure to mainly blue and brown that causes asbestosis.

[veggiechicken]

Thanks Newton. If it is there, I hope its white!