Will it be scout with the old?


A NEWLY formed scout group is hoping to move to a new home in a bid to save members money. 
Beavers and cubs from the 3rd Daventry Scout Group currently meet at the Southbrook Community Centre.
However the group has applied to Daventry District Council (DDC) to change the use of a building in the town’s High March from an industrial to non-residential use.		  
It is hoped that moving to a new home will attract more youngsters to the group, which is aimed at children from Borough Hill and the Stefen Hill and Southbrook estates, as it will cut the cost of being a member.
 
Michael Sheppard from the group said: “There are many families, especially on the Southbrook, who find it difficult to spare the money for the minimal £12 per month for scouts membership subscription charged to cover the rental of the centre and fees. We want to use this new building to keep costs down.”

In September the group will become the 3rd Daventry Scout Troop when the current cubs become scouts and Mr Sheppard added there are also worries about the amount of space at the community centre.

“All the equipment used during meetings not only has to be packed away but has to be stored at helpers’ homes. The limited space we have is likely to be stretched even further with a scout group,” he said.

 
The group submitted its planning application for the vacant building in High March after it approached DDC for help. Mr Sheppard added: “We are hopeful it will go through before the beginning of September. It is not envisaged that the application will be rejected.”

Simon Bovey, executive director at DDC, said: “We were contacted by the Third Daventry Scout Group, who made us aware of its issues with its current meeting venue, and so we offered it the use of a vacant property in High March until any prospective paying tenant becomes available.

“We were delighted to be able to help the scout group and hope that the new venue will provide it with better facilities that the youngsters can enjoy.”  

Published Date: 30 July 2009