There are yellow planning notices posted on the front of The Corn Exchange – nothing to fear, they are ours! Please support our application to convert the building into small shops and flats. If you are local, you can see some details posted to the door. Otherwise, please do to www.beacons-npa.gov.uk/pl…/applications/applications-online/
Search for 16/13690/FUL and 16/13691/LBC
You have til next Thursday, July 21st, to have your say.
“We’re all in this together!” That was the rallying cry issued to Corn Exchange shareholders as project leaders outlined plans to turn the former Crickhowell pub into shops and flats for local people and small businesses. And the shareholders showed their support by unanimously electing the leadership team for the project and overwhelmingly backing the conversion plans.
Project Director, Andrew Gray, told the shareholders meeting that there would be “challenges ahead” as the team set about turning the listed building into three small shops for independent businesses to use and three small flats for local people. He told the meeting in Clarence Hall that the full cost of the conversion would not be known until builders went in – but that “everything possible would be done to keep the costs to a minimum”. This would include using local trades people and professionals – some of whom had already offered to work for reduced rates – as well as “volunteer days” where local people could help clear the building or get involved in decorating it once the building work was done.
Over 230 mostly local people invested money last Christmas to offer to buy The Corn Exchange to prevent it being turned into a supermarket and Corn Exchange Crickhowell (Ltd (CEC Ltd) was formed. The company won’t complete the purchase of the building until all stages of planning permission are achieved. Shareholders were told that the building should be open by autumn 2017.
Dean Christy – the local businessman who led the buyout – praised the campaign which stopped the plans for the supermarket and the investors who had “stepped up to the challenge” finding a new use for The Corn Exchange. “We are only here because of you” he said, “and you should be congratulated”.
During Thursday’s meeting, shareholders unanimously approved a board of directors to run the project and a new non-executive Chairman to look after shareholders’ interests. They also overwhelmingly approved the business plan and tenancy policy that restricts the use of the building to businesses that are “in line with the character of Crickhowell”. Emma Bevan, told shareholders she was “passionate” about Crickhowell’s small businesses and independent High Street. “There will be no chains,” she said.
Shareholders were told that architects, Hoole and Walmsley, had been appointed to start the process of obtaining planning permission. Andrew Gray told shareholders that their brief was to be “sympathetic to the townscape and the intrinsic nature of the building – so that it retains its heritage and features that contribute to Crickhowell’s rich history and diversity”. They would also be asked to consider the sustainable and eco elements while having to work within a limited conversion budget of around £200,000. He said:” This is a tough assignment. In my experience as soon as you open up a building you find things that need attention – it is impossible to know the detailed elements and foibles of a building until you start to work with it.”
During the meeting, Dean Christy was elected as Managing Director of CEC Ltd and relinquished his role as Chair to David Thomas, who is also Chair of the Crickhowell Resource and Information Centre. The Chair will not be involved in the day to day running of the project but will represent shareholders interests and resolve any issues shareholders may have if they cannot get satisfaction from the directors. He said “It is really important that the Board of Directors and the shareholders all move together as one on this – that’s my pledge to you”
Communications Director, Tim Jones, revealed that 78 per cent of those who had invested lived or worked within 15 miles of Crickhowell and 75 per cent of investors had put in £2,500 or less – making this “a true community initiative and a democratic process as every shareholder has a say in the future of their High Street”.
The full team is David Thomas (non-executive Chair), Dean Christy (Managing Director), Andrew Gray (Project Director), Peter Roberts (Finance Director), Tim Jones (PR and Communications Director). They are joined on a Steering Group by Emma Bevan (Tenant Liaison Officer), Claire Gray (Project Manager) and Harriet Tod (Administrator – funded by the Brecon Beacons National Park Sustainable Development Fund.) With the exception of the Administrator, all posts are unpaid.
Anyone with any comments or questions is asked to contact the team via email on info@cornexchangecrickhowell.co.uk
The future direction of Crickhowell’s Corn Exchange will be decided this Thursday (March 17th). People who bought shares in the former pub to stop it being turned into a supermarket will be asked to approve a scheme to turn it instead into small shops and flats. They’ll also vote on a policy that would restrict the use of The Corn Exchange in future so that the character of Crickhowell’s unique independent High Street is preserved forever.
It’s almost a year to the day since townspeople discovered proposals to turn The Corn Exchange into a national chain convenience store. They protested to stop the plans and then raised more than half a million pounds to offer to buy the building from pub chain, Punch Taverns. On Thursday, the first meeting of shareholders in Corn Exchange Crickhowell Ltd (CEC Ltd) – the company set up to buy and convert the former pub – will decide its future. Shareholders will appoint a board of directors and a non-executive Chair to run the company and will be asked to approve a business plan and tenancy policy. This policy restricts the shops to uses “in line with the character of the town” and which “contribute to its vibrancy, providing new opportunities and developing the local economy”. Current Chair of CEC Ltd, Dean Christy, said: “This is a landmark moment for The High Street. This tenancy policy in effect bars The Corn Exchange from ever being turned into a supermarket because that use would not be in keeping with the character of Crickhowell or contribute anything to its vibrancy”.
Emma Bevan, co-chair of Crickhowell’s Totally Locally campaign, is going to act as tenant liaison for CEC Ltd – finding suitable businesses to occupy the building. She said: “The Corn Exchange is in a prime location on Crickhowell’s High Street and we already have people interested in occupying the shops and we are happy to hear of more proposals.”
Shareholders will also be asked to approve a business plan and will, for the first time, be shown outline plans of how the space could be used. Project Director, Andrew Gray, said: “We still have to get planning permission but we want shareholders to approve our ideas so we can get on with that process.” The proposed scheme includes opening up the windows on the listed building which is seen as essential for providing viable shop premises. CEC Ltd won’t complete the purchase of The Corn Exchange until planning permission is obtained. Andrew Gray said: “We are ambitious and want to see The Corn Exchange open for new tenants in 2017.”
During the shareholders meeting Dean Christy will step down as Chair of CEC Ltd and seek election as Managing Director instead. Shareholders will also be asked to appoint David Thomas, as Non-Executive Chair. Mr Christy said: “We are doing this so that shareholders can be reassured that someone not directly involved in the day to day running of the business is overseeing the conduct of the Board and looking after shareholder interests. This is vitally important given the large numbers of shareholders involved”.
CEC Ltd have revealed that 78 per cent of people who invested money in The Corn Exchange live or work within 15 miles of Crickhowell and 75 per cent of investors put in £2,500 or less. “This just goes to show that this really is a community-led initiative with large numbers of people putting in what they can afford. Every pound invested buys a vote and we invite shareholders to use their votes on Thursday to decide a new future for The Corn Exchange” Mr Christy said.
The Corn Exchange Crickhowell Ltd Ordinary General Meeting will be held on Thursday March 17th at 7pm in Crickhowell’s Clarence Hall. Doors open at 6.30pm. The meeting is open to shareholders and their partners. Voting forms have been sent out to shareholders but any of those unable to attend are able to vote by nominating a proxy, which can include the Chairman. Anyone with any questions should email info@cornexchangecrickhowell.co.uk
People who bought shares in Crickhowell’s Corn Exchange are to have a say in the building’s future – at the first general meeting of shareholders on March 17th.
Shareholders will vote to elect a non-Executive Chair and Board of Directors to run Corn Exchange Crickhowell Ltd – the company which was created to buy and refurbish the former High Street pub. And shareholders will also be asked to approve the strategy of converting The Corn Exchange into three shops and three small flats.
A business plan and voting slips have been sent out by email ahead of the meeting. Only shareholders or their nominees can vote, though partners of shareholders can attend. The meeting will be held at the Clarence Hall in Crickhowell. Doors open at 6.30pm and the meeting will start at 7pm.
Shareholders are asked to look out for the email and to contact Corn Exchange Crickhowell Ltd by email on info@cornexchangecrickhowell.co.uk to confirm their attendance or if they have any questions ahead of the meeting.
Contracts of sale have been exchanged between the owners of the former Corn Exchange pub in Crickhowell High Street and the group of investors who raised more than half a million pounds to buy and convert it. It means the buyers, Corn Exchange Crickhowell Ltd (CEC Ltd), can now press ahead with drawing up detailed plans to convert the building into three small shops and three one-bedroomed flats.
Chair of CEC Ltd, Dean Christy, said: “This effectively means that the building is now ours and Crickhowell High Street has been protected from the threat of a national chain convenience store being built there. We can now draw up plans to convert The Corn Exchange in ways that are sympathetic to our unique independent High Street, while at the same time maximise its earning potential.”
Last week, CEC Ltd held their first meeting with their architect and Brecon Beacons National Park Planning and Conservation officers to start their application for planning permission. CEC Ltd said the meeting was “very helpful” and included discussions about how the windows could be opened up to provide better shop frontages – something they regard as essential to attracting small independent traders. CEC Ltd say they have already had expressions of interest from people who are keen to rent the shops and also believe the flats will be in high demand, given the shortage of similar accommodation in the area.
CEC Ltd say that shares will be issued to the more than 230 people who invested money and they will then be eligible to attend shareholder meetings and vote for the future of the company and the building. The first ordinary general meeting of shareholders is planned for early March. At this meeting, shareholders will be invited to appoint the board of directors and a new non-executive Chairman and approve the business plan.
CEC Ltd say the non-executive chairman will not be involved in the day to day running of the business but will look after the shareholders’ interests and ensure the company is run to the highest possible standards. David Thomas, currently Chair of the Crickhowell Resource and information centre and a founding member of the Corn Exchange Action Group which fought the convenience store plans has put his name forward to be non-executive Chair. Several members of the CEC Ltd steering group have put their names forward to be directors. These include Dean Christy as Managing Director; Peter Roberts as Finance Director and Company Secretary; Andrew Gray as Project Director; and Tim Jones as Director for Communications and PR. The company say all these positions will be unpaid for at least two years. The Board will be assisted by a wider steering group, comprising Emma Bevan in charge of liaising with new tenants, Claire Gray and CEC Ltd’s newly appointed administrator, Harriet Tod – a position funded by the Brecon Beacons National Park Sustainable Development Fund. Harriet Murray-Jones is also acting unpaid as consultant lawyer. CEC Ltd say anyone who wishes to propose alternative Board nominees, who must also be shareholders, must advise them in writing by February 12th, and provide full details of their qualifications and experience so that shareholders can be advised before the meeting.
Dean Christy said: “This is indeed a campaign that we should all be proud of, the success of which would not have been possible without the support of Crickhowell and our investors, most importantly, their trust in us.”
