“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
